Dave Foster
@pratorum2112.bsky.social
Whitburn, NE England. Mostly birds and dreadful photographs, but a bit of other stuff too...
Reposted by Dave Foster
Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it.
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
How to quit Spotify
This Black Friday, here's a guide to finding the best Spotify alternative
www.bloodinthemachine.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Spotify is garbage on every count: Its treatment of artists, its ICE advertising, the CEO's investment in military AI, its leading role in the commodification and AI slopification of music, its terrible audio quality—you name it.
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
So I quit, and put together a complete guide to getting off Spotify:
Reposted by Dave Foster
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
December 7, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Super article in December @britishbirds.bsky.social detailing use of passive bioacoustic recorders to detect Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - thanks to @lesserspotnet.bsky.social @simongillings.bsky.social @hosbirding.bsky.social et al
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
A glimmer of hope? 🙏
Read here:
britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
Reposted by Dave Foster
First of many such incidents, I expect. Another ‘win’ for those ‘useful’ Gen AI tools.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Trains cancelled over fake bridge collapse image - BBC News
Rail services were cancelled after a 'hoax' picture of a damaged bridge appeared on social media
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 8:46 AM
First of many such incidents, I expect. Another ‘win’ for those ‘useful’ Gen AI tools.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dave Foster
In Ireland, in school, we had the term "Lick arse".
By the hammer of Thor we need that term to become global terminology. 😂
By the hammer of Thor we need that term to become global terminology. 😂
December 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
In Ireland, in school, we had the term "Lick arse".
By the hammer of Thor we need that term to become global terminology. 😂
By the hammer of Thor we need that term to become global terminology. 😂
Reposted by Dave Foster
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Thank God for Bluesky
Yes, it's eager. Yes, it's censorious. But it has the very considerable advantage of not being fascist.
iandunt.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Thank God for Bluesky: A little love letter to the people who would not compromise with Nazis iandunt.substack.com/p/thank-god-...
Reposted by Dave Foster
We are going to irreversibly degrade the biosphere for the sake of people asking 'Grok' to explain simple memes and/or generating pictures of cats that look like Hitler.
EXCLUSIVE: O’Leary’s Gas-Powered Data Centre Emissions Could Wipe Out Alberta’s Coal Phaseout Gains www.theenergymix.com/exclusive-ol...
EXCLUSIVE: O’Leary’s Gas-Powered Data Centre Emissions Could Wipe Out Alberta’s Coal Phaseout Gains
Celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary’s proposed $70-billion data centre, designed to run on 7.5 gigawatts of gas-fired power, could raise Alberta’s greenhouse gas emissions to levels not seen since the co...
www.theenergymix.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
We are going to irreversibly degrade the biosphere for the sake of people asking 'Grok' to explain simple memes and/or generating pictures of cats that look like Hitler.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Ah, this looks a captivating read just going by the title & author! It brought to mind one of my favourite quotes (I hope you don’t mind me including here, Nick):
December 5, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Ah, this looks a captivating read just going by the title & author! It brought to mind one of my favourite quotes (I hope you don’t mind me including here, Nick):
Reposted by Dave Foster
Tracking Devices Alter Diving and Body Mass in European Shags
New research reveals how biologging equipment affects behaviour, chick growth and adult condition in European Shags on the Norwegian coast. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/T...
New research reveals how biologging equipment affects behaviour, chick growth and adult condition in European Shags on the Norwegian coast. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/T...
>
New research reveals how biologging equipment affects behaviour, chick growth and adult condition in European Shags on the Norwegian coast
www.rarebirdalert.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Tracking Devices Alter Diving and Body Mass in European Shags
New research reveals how biologging equipment affects behaviour, chick growth and adult condition in European Shags on the Norwegian coast. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/T...
New research reveals how biologging equipment affects behaviour, chick growth and adult condition in European Shags on the Norwegian coast. www.rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/T...
Reposted by Dave Foster
I've seen some excellent birds at Dawlish Warren down the years, including Greater Sand Plover, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Grey Shrike & Broad-billed Sand. This week's Lesser-crested Tern is right up there with them. This superb image by Portland birder Pete Coe #ukbirding
December 5, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I've seen some excellent birds at Dawlish Warren down the years, including Greater Sand Plover, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Grey Shrike & Broad-billed Sand. This week's Lesser-crested Tern is right up there with them. This superb image by Portland birder Pete Coe #ukbirding
Reposted by Dave Foster
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
December 4, 2025 at 9:01 PM
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
Reposted by Dave Foster
An hour ago, on Sunk Island in East Yorkshire, the sky lit up with #aurora. Dancing pillars and vivid reds to the naked eye, despite the almost full Moon! Welcome to winter! 💃
December 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
An hour ago, on Sunk Island in East Yorkshire, the sky lit up with #aurora. Dancing pillars and vivid reds to the naked eye, despite the almost full Moon! Welcome to winter! 💃
Reposted by Dave Foster
Free online talk, tonight, book asap on Eventbright:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saving-our...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saving-our...
December 3, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Free online talk, tonight, book asap on Eventbright:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saving-our...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/saving-our...
Reposted by Dave Foster
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
Every sympathy for University of Essex (and pressures facing them) but this is very bad news for Southend.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Essex university to cut 400 jobs as overseas student numbers plummet
Roles to be lost are part of wave of redundancy programmes across UK’s higher education sector
giftarticle.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
If it were steel works we would have a government bailout plan, yet losing thousands of jobs at unis is met with a shrug. & unlike steelworks universities were profitable when they had foreign students.
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
You are killing the golden goose… one of our best exports…
HOW IS THIS HELPING GROWTH?!
Reposted by Dave Foster
The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust is looking for a manager for their seabird recovery programme. www.wildlifetrusts.org/jobs/project...
December 2, 2025 at 5:39 PM
The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust is looking for a manager for their seabird recovery programme. www.wildlifetrusts.org/jobs/project...
Reposted by Dave Foster
Black Scoter photo here: dumfriesgallowaybirdnews.blogspot.com/2025/12/surf...
Surf & Black Scoters
Dumfries,Galloway,Bird,News,Sightings,Information,Carsethorn,Stranraer,Newton Stewart,Threave,Castle Douglas,Annan,Loch Ryan,Ken,Wigtown,Solway,DG,dng
dumfriesgallowaybirdnews.blogspot.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Black Scoter photo here: dumfriesgallowaybirdnews.blogspot.com/2025/12/surf...
Reposted by Dave Foster
Big scoter day in Dumfries & Galloway today. Started with a drake Velvet Scoter off Balcary Point, then the 2 drake Surf Scoter in Rascarrel Bay, before helping to ID and confirm a drake Black Scoter, also in Rascarrel Bay (only the 2nd for D&G). Grey Phalarope in Rascarrel Bay too! #BirdingScotland
December 2, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Big scoter day in Dumfries & Galloway today. Started with a drake Velvet Scoter off Balcary Point, then the 2 drake Surf Scoter in Rascarrel Bay, before helping to ID and confirm a drake Black Scoter, also in Rascarrel Bay (only the 2nd for D&G). Grey Phalarope in Rascarrel Bay too! #BirdingScotland
Reposted by Dave Foster
FOR SALE! £775 inc postage
Canon 7D mark II with Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens. With the 1.6 crop the lens = 240-960. Price reflects well used but lens surface excellent and full working order. Most of my Bsky images pre-February 2025 shot on this combo. DM me for more info/photos. #BirdingGear
Canon 7D mark II with Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens. With the 1.6 crop the lens = 240-960. Price reflects well used but lens surface excellent and full working order. Most of my Bsky images pre-February 2025 shot on this combo. DM me for more info/photos. #BirdingGear
December 1, 2025 at 5:32 PM
FOR SALE! £775 inc postage
Canon 7D mark II with Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens. With the 1.6 crop the lens = 240-960. Price reflects well used but lens surface excellent and full working order. Most of my Bsky images pre-February 2025 shot on this combo. DM me for more info/photos. #BirdingGear
Canon 7D mark II with Sigma 150-600 Contemporary lens. With the 1.6 crop the lens = 240-960. Price reflects well used but lens surface excellent and full working order. Most of my Bsky images pre-February 2025 shot on this combo. DM me for more info/photos. #BirdingGear
Reposted by Dave Foster
This time, the washes were ready! 🦢✅
After a 570km U-turn north to Aberdeenshire, likely due to low water at the Ouse Washes, the same swan has migrated south again & arrived to restored, higher levels. A real-world example of landscape-scale habitat assessment by migratory birds.
After a 570km U-turn north to Aberdeenshire, likely due to low water at the Ouse Washes, the same swan has migrated south again & arrived to restored, higher levels. A real-world example of landscape-scale habitat assessment by migratory birds.
December 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM
This time, the washes were ready! 🦢✅
After a 570km U-turn north to Aberdeenshire, likely due to low water at the Ouse Washes, the same swan has migrated south again & arrived to restored, higher levels. A real-world example of landscape-scale habitat assessment by migratory birds.
After a 570km U-turn north to Aberdeenshire, likely due to low water at the Ouse Washes, the same swan has migrated south again & arrived to restored, higher levels. A real-world example of landscape-scale habitat assessment by migratory birds.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Anthropogenic water depletion outweighs climate change as a cause of wet grassland bird decline in Lake Neusiedl – Seewinkel National Park | www.sciencedirect.co... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology 🪶
December 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Anthropogenic water depletion outweighs climate change as a cause of wet grassland bird decline in Lake Neusiedl – Seewinkel National Park | www.sciencedirect.co... | Biological Conservation | #ornithology 🪶
Reposted by Dave Foster
A quick dash to Spiggie this afternoon to see this female SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT released back in to the ‘Bumblebird’ wild bird crop. Clearly autumn isn’t over for us here in Shetland!
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
December 1, 2025 at 3:15 PM
A quick dash to Spiggie this afternoon to see this female SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT released back in to the ‘Bumblebird’ wild bird crop. Clearly autumn isn’t over for us here in Shetland!
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
#BirdingScotland #UKbirding #RareBirdsUK #Birds #UKWildlife
Reposted by Dave Foster
I see Reform have found room for Primark Hodor. He'll feel right at home. Gullis is so heroically stupid it's like he’s been bitten by a radioactive idiot. A discarded early draft of Chewbacca that someone dragged out of the bin and taught rudimentary table manners.
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I see Reform have found room for Primark Hodor. He'll feel right at home. Gullis is so heroically stupid it's like he’s been bitten by a radioactive idiot. A discarded early draft of Chewbacca that someone dragged out of the bin and taught rudimentary table manners.
Reposted by Dave Foster
Anyone living in Gateshead South Tyneside or Sunderland interested in nature needs to read this and have your say Otherwise this poorly thought through plan (IMHO) will set the trend for more downward spiral in wildlife 🦇 don’t get a mention natureplan.org.uk
NaturePlan - South of Tyne and Wear Local Nature Recovery
Working together to restore nature, combat climate change and benefit our communities
natureplan.org.uk
November 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Anyone living in Gateshead South Tyneside or Sunderland interested in nature needs to read this and have your say Otherwise this poorly thought through plan (IMHO) will set the trend for more downward spiral in wildlife 🦇 don’t get a mention natureplan.org.uk
Reposted by Dave Foster
Massive decline in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park Peregrine population linked to intensive grouse moor management.
Press release from Cairngorms National Park Authority, copy of the new report, & commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/30/m...
Press release from Cairngorms National Park Authority, copy of the new report, & commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/30/m...
Massive decline in Cairngorms National Park Peregrine population linked to intensive grouse moor management
Press release from Cairngorms National Park Authority (24 November 2025) PEREGRINE NUMBERS IN DECLINE IN CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK The last UK-wide survey of peregrines took place in 2014 and covere…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Massive decline in Scotland's Cairngorms National Park Peregrine population linked to intensive grouse moor management.
Press release from Cairngorms National Park Authority, copy of the new report, & commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/30/m...
Press release from Cairngorms National Park Authority, copy of the new report, & commentary from me ⬇️⬇️
#RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/11/30/m...
Reposted by Dave Foster
WaPo/Military Times: Hegseth ordered troops to “kill everybody” on a boat at sea on 9/2/25-saying they were fighting “narcoterrorism”.
Yesterday, Trump fully pardoned former Honduran Pres Hernandez, convicted in ‘24 for conspiring to bring 400 TONS of COCAINE into the US. His sentence was 45 yrs!
Yesterday, Trump fully pardoned former Honduran Pres Hernandez, convicted in ‘24 for conspiring to bring 400 TONS of COCAINE into the US. His sentence was 45 yrs!
Hegseth Ordered Second Strike to Kill Caribbean Boat Survivors: Report
The United States changed its protocols after Secretary Hegseth told officials to "kill everybody" onboard an a Caribbean vessel in September.
www.military.com
November 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
WaPo/Military Times: Hegseth ordered troops to “kill everybody” on a boat at sea on 9/2/25-saying they were fighting “narcoterrorism”.
Yesterday, Trump fully pardoned former Honduran Pres Hernandez, convicted in ‘24 for conspiring to bring 400 TONS of COCAINE into the US. His sentence was 45 yrs!
Yesterday, Trump fully pardoned former Honduran Pres Hernandez, convicted in ‘24 for conspiring to bring 400 TONS of COCAINE into the US. His sentence was 45 yrs!
Reposted by Dave Foster
Your daily Avian Hybrids story!
A new subspecies of Manx Shearwater from the Canary Islands
avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/a...
#ornithology
A new subspecies of Manx Shearwater from the Canary Islands
avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/a...
#ornithology
A new subspecies of Manx Shearwater from the Canary Islands
But how convincing is the supporting evidence?
avianhybrids.wordpress.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Your daily Avian Hybrids story!
A new subspecies of Manx Shearwater from the Canary Islands
avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/a...
#ornithology
A new subspecies of Manx Shearwater from the Canary Islands
avianhybrids.wordpress.com/2021/06/16/a...
#ornithology