Paul Rhodes
@paulrhodes.bsky.social
Birder and naturalist. St Agnes Isles of Scilly always on my mind. Lover of Real Ale. Lifelong supporter of Stafford Rangers FC UTB. Mainly patch birding in Netherlands based in Leiden.
Polders Poelgeest Leiden cold southerly wind a female hen harrier hunting on Veerpolder (8th record) was my 168th species here it stayed hunting for 30 minutes revealing the snipe in the Leede reed bed also 6 pintail a super close woodcock and 2 peregrine over male stonechat #birds #dutchbirding
December 1, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden cold southerly wind a female hen harrier hunting on Veerpolder (8th record) was my 168th species here it stayed hunting for 30 minutes revealing the snipe in the Leede reed bed also 6 pintail a super close woodcock and 2 peregrine over male stonechat #birds #dutchbirding
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
BOOM!! 100,000 signatures! Now let’s have a date for the debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 29, 2025 at 5:17 PM
BOOM!! 100,000 signatures! Now let’s have a date for the debate
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Worst media on God's green Earth
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Worst media on God's green Earth
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
🚨The Petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy has now rocketed past 55,000 signatures! Let’s get it to 100,000. If a petition is what it’s going to take let’s get this done!
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Vandaag een prachtig vogeltje gezien op het strand tussen Katwijk en Noordwijk: een Woestijntapuit. Vanaf 1970 is deze zeldzame dwaalgast 56 keer in Nederland waargenomen. Dus gemiddeld slechts 1x per jaar.
November 24, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Vandaag een prachtig vogeltje gezien op het strand tussen Katwijk en Noordwijk: een Woestijntapuit. Vanaf 1970 is deze zeldzame dwaalgast 56 keer in Nederland waargenomen. Dus gemiddeld slechts 1x per jaar.
Polders Poelgeest Leiden mid am NE wind after rain.Late autumn fare with 2 firecrest 2+ stonechat 20 common snipe siskin chiffchaff small flock of chaffinch feeding by boatyard 11 shelduck great egret common buzzard kestrel little grebe.Duck no's generally well down this autumn #birds #dutchbirding
November 25, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden mid am NE wind after rain.Late autumn fare with 2 firecrest 2+ stonechat 20 common snipe siskin chiffchaff small flock of chaffinch feeding by boatyard 11 shelduck great egret common buzzard kestrel little grebe.Duck no's generally well down this autumn #birds #dutchbirding
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Farage can now be easily boxed in to a corner where his only ‘defence’ becomes: “Yes I spouted Kremlin propaganda & Putin worship but, unlike Nathan Gill, I didn’t need bribes to do it.”
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
It is, once again, a question of whether interviewers have the temerity to shut down his whining obfuscations.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
It's January 31st, 2020, and Nathan Gill is celebrating our imminent departure from the EU.... and that terrible idea of a European Army.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
November 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It's January 31st, 2020, and Nathan Gill is celebrating our imminent departure from the EU.... and that terrible idea of a European Army.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
Hmm, now I wonder who else would have been delighted about that.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
We have the full range of the #NEW Leica Televid HD & APO Televid 65 and 82 spotting scopes in stock.
See these incredible scopes at our shop here in #Worcester and experience razor-sharp resolution, exceptional colour fidelity and contrast.
🔽
www.birders-store.co.uk/leica-televi...
#BirdingGear
See these incredible scopes at our shop here in #Worcester and experience razor-sharp resolution, exceptional colour fidelity and contrast.
🔽
www.birders-store.co.uk/leica-televi...
#BirdingGear
November 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
We have the full range of the #NEW Leica Televid HD & APO Televid 65 and 82 spotting scopes in stock.
See these incredible scopes at our shop here in #Worcester and experience razor-sharp resolution, exceptional colour fidelity and contrast.
🔽
www.birders-store.co.uk/leica-televi...
#BirdingGear
See these incredible scopes at our shop here in #Worcester and experience razor-sharp resolution, exceptional colour fidelity and contrast.
🔽
www.birders-store.co.uk/leica-televi...
#BirdingGear
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
It would take peers 20 years to get through all the amendments at this pace.
When an unelected chamber deliberately stalls a bill backed by the Commons, it does more than delay legislation; it undermines representative democracy.
#AssistedDyingBill
humanists.uk/2025/11/21/a...
When an unelected chamber deliberately stalls a bill backed by the Commons, it does more than delay legislation; it undermines representative democracy.
#AssistedDyingBill
humanists.uk/2025/11/21/a...
House of Lords will talk out the Assisted Dying Bill unless changes are made
The House of Lords will talk out the Assisted Dying Bill, causing it to fail, unless they speed up the debate. Humanists UK and My Death, My Decision are dismayed that the unelected House is frustrati...
humanists.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
It would take peers 20 years to get through all the amendments at this pace.
When an unelected chamber deliberately stalls a bill backed by the Commons, it does more than delay legislation; it undermines representative democracy.
#AssistedDyingBill
humanists.uk/2025/11/21/a...
When an unelected chamber deliberately stalls a bill backed by the Commons, it does more than delay legislation; it undermines representative democracy.
#AssistedDyingBill
humanists.uk/2025/11/21/a...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
NEW: Reform UK’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 and a half years for taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia when he was an MEP. Full story 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform UK’s former Wales leader jailed for taking bribes for pro-Russia speeches
Police say Nathan Gill received at least £40,000 while he was an MEP from Oleg Voloshyn, an alleged Russian asset
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:46 PM
NEW: Reform UK’s former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, has been jailed at the Old Bailey for 10 and a half years for taking bribes to make statements in favour of Russia when he was an MEP. Full story 👇
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden NL am cold NE wind water bodies part frozen 9 pink footed geese nfy the 3 stonechats reappeared 3 snipe 2 great egret 10 shelduck brambling woodcock 8+ water rail stock dove. A bullfinch seen after I left was only the 2nd record and first since 2014 #birds #dutchbirding
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Polders Poelgeest Nr Leiden NL am cold NE wind water bodies part frozen 9 pink footed geese nfy the 3 stonechats reappeared 3 snipe 2 great egret 10 shelduck brambling woodcock 8+ water rail stock dove. A bullfinch seen after I left was only the 2nd record and first since 2014 #birds #dutchbirding
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
BREAKING: The UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
BREAKING: The UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
The 750-page document also has stinging criticism of “toxic and chaotic” culture inside Boris Johnson’s Downing Street – which it said the then PM. actively embraced – in which loudest voices held sway and women were sidelined.
November 20, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The 750-page document also has stinging criticism of “toxic and chaotic” culture inside Boris Johnson’s Downing Street – which it said the then PM. actively embraced – in which loudest voices held sway and women were sidelined.
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Findings partic brutal about early 2020, describing the Feb as “lost month”. If lockdown was imposed a week earlier than March 16, it could've cut deaths in England by almost half. Many of same mistakes then "inexcusably" repeated - @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response
Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10
www.theguardian.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Findings partic brutal about early 2020, describing the Feb as “lost month”. If lockdown was imposed a week earlier than March 16, it could've cut deaths in England by almost half. Many of same mistakes then "inexcusably" repeated - @peterwalker99.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Adult Whooper Swan just dropped on to Clifton main pit #WorcsBirds
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Adult Whooper Swan just dropped on to Clifton main pit #WorcsBirds
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
This Swallow at Balranald, N Uist this afternoon appears to be the American subspecies: erythrogaster due to the lack of a dark band across the lower throat.
November 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
This Swallow at Balranald, N Uist this afternoon appears to be the American subspecies: erythrogaster due to the lack of a dark band across the lower throat.
Polders Poelgeest Leiden dry NE wind. Good to get out on the patch after consecutive wet days.2 woodcock over 2 firecrest calling pair pintail 2shelduck 2 goldcrest 3 chiffchaff still holding on siskin great egret 3 common snipe 3 water rail a late spoonbill reported circling #birds #dutchbirding
November 16, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Polders Poelgeest Leiden dry NE wind. Good to get out on the patch after consecutive wet days.2 woodcock over 2 firecrest calling pair pintail 2shelduck 2 goldcrest 3 chiffchaff still holding on siskin great egret 3 common snipe 3 water rail a late spoonbill reported circling #birds #dutchbirding
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Requesting opinion/thoughts on a possible AGP with 30 GP at Hayle pm today. Retained summer plum, slighter in size, strong head pattern, grey-er background colour, thinner bill. Didn’t get underwing nor primary proj - face-on the whole time until it flew W #idhelp #cornwallbirding #please #begentle
November 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Requesting opinion/thoughts on a possible AGP with 30 GP at Hayle pm today. Retained summer plum, slighter in size, strong head pattern, grey-er background colour, thinner bill. Didn’t get underwing nor primary proj - face-on the whole time until it flew W #idhelp #cornwallbirding #please #begentle
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
And let’s not forget….
November 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
And let’s not forget….
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
November 11, 2025 at 6:13 PM
PSA: tips to protect yourself from scams on Signal.
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Every major comms platform has to contend w phishing, impersonation, & scams. Sadly.
Signal is major, and as we've grown we've heard about more of these attacks--scammy people pretending to be something or someone to trick and abuse others. 1/
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
If anyone lost a bag of books from LRB Bookshop on the Metropolitan Line between Baker St- Watford, I handed it to a cleaner when the train terminated at Watford tube station. And if you have far more followers than me, please share this status. LRB bookshop is not cheap!
November 1, 2025 at 5:05 PM
If anyone lost a bag of books from LRB Bookshop on the Metropolitan Line between Baker St- Watford, I handed it to a cleaner when the train terminated at Watford tube station. And if you have far more followers than me, please share this status. LRB bookshop is not cheap!
Reposted by Paul Rhodes
Just 7 1/2 hours to go to Vote in the National Trust Council elections. Your vote will help keep out the Restore Trust entryists.
If you're a member of the National Trust remember to vote for council members by midnight tonight.
Use the Quick Vote option.
Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them
Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand
secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Use the Quick Vote option.
Entryist pressure group Reform Trust is trying to seize control. Stop them
Voting is quick and easy if your membership card is at hand
secure.cesvotes.com/V3-3-0/nt25/...
Log In
Welcome to the National Trust 2025 voting website, hosted by independent voting service provider Civica Election Services.
secure.cesvotes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Just 7 1/2 hours to go to Vote in the National Trust Council elections. Your vote will help keep out the Restore Trust entryists.
Polders Poelgeest SE wind. Excellent morning 4 whooper swans dropped in then flew south. Hawfinch brambling 48 + siskin 60+ fieldfare skylark female pintail 22 greater white fronts good no's starling redwing chaffinch & wood pigeon goldcrest stonechat. Yellow browed finally gone #birds #dutchbirding
October 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Polders Poelgeest SE wind. Excellent morning 4 whooper swans dropped in then flew south. Hawfinch brambling 48 + siskin 60+ fieldfare skylark female pintail 22 greater white fronts good no's starling redwing chaffinch & wood pigeon goldcrest stonechat. Yellow browed finally gone #birds #dutchbirding
Heard news tdy that there were 50,000 blue tits on Vlieland & similar numbers on Texel during the recent irruption!!! At Polders Poelgeest today the yellow browed warble again it's 12th day & further possible heard. 2 stonechats f brambling 350 starling 100 wood pigeon #birds #dutchbirding
October 30, 2025 at 3:59 PM