If you went down to the woods in May... A short 🧵about how @birdsandbikes.bsky.social and I spent our spare time this spring in Coed Gwydyr and adjacent woodlands in the Afon Conwy catchment, #NorthWales. #BirdingWales

A spritely Madeira Firecrest from our recent voyage to the Macaronesia islands. A millisecond later it was gone. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Roosting around Hundland this evening #BirdingScotland #RareBirdsUk

A cracking Hummingbird Hawkmoth has been regularly feeding by the visitor centre at #RSPBLakenheathFen lately on its preferred Viper's Bugloss flowers.

4 dorsal fins in a row from a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins seen recently off Madeira. Interesting to see tooth marks on some of the fins. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Seeing the Western Reef Heron at Morfa Conwy over the weekend with a backdrop of the Great Orme, both places I grew up birding at, was a scene more likely in a dream than reality! @sophieshrike.bsky.social

After a week away finally added the Western Reef Heron to the Conwy list! Now to try and scope it from the Great Orme 😂Bird still present on the Conwy Morfa today (19/06). Good to see @hcbirding.bsky.social and Sophie - thanks for the Orme/WRH pic Henerz ☺️👍 #ukbirding #rarebirdsUK #BirdingWales

Good news! Ministers have finally given green light to new #NaturalHistory GCSE. We’ve campaigned so long for this! Big hats off to tireless advocate Mary Colwell 🙌 Now our young people will have a chance to get to know & love the natural world, to feel awe & wonder, & gain skills to protect it 🌷🌳🦡

Natural history GCSE to teach teenagers to plant wildflower-friendly gardens

Long-awaited course to examine human effects on natural world and explore everyday ways to aid biodiversity

theguardian.com

My lovely friend Mary Colwell has fought for a Natural History GCSE, supported by many, including Caroline. For it to be proper natural history, we need lots of naturalists to give their opinions on the proposed framework. Please consider visiting the public consultation www.gov.uk/government/c...

GCSE natural history proposed subject content

We are seeking views on the proposed subject content for a new GCSE in natural history.

gov.uk

Caroline Lucas@carolinelucas.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Good news! Ministers have finally given green light to new #NaturalHistory GCSE. We’ve campaigned so long for this! Big hats off to tireless advocate Mary Colwell 🙌 Now our young people will have a chance to get to know & love the natural world, to feel awe & wonder, & gain skills to protect it 🌷🌳🦡

📣 Applications are now open for the Martin Garner Spurn Young Birder Competition 2026! If you're aged 16 or under and passionate about birding, this is your chance to compete at #MigFest2026 and win some fantastic prizes. ⏰ Applications close 19 July 🔗 tinyurl.com/MGSYB2026 Please share!

Managed great looks at a Sperm Whale on the approach to the Azores, when it popped up close to our ship. Note the characteristic angled blow from the single blowhole on the left side of the head in this species. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Incredible views of a migrating Common Quail as it flew past the ship in the English Channel! @sophieshrike.bsky.social

After poor weather in the Azores meant missing out on quite a few whales, things improved in Madeira with Fin Whale, Minke Whale and Sei Whale seen well - the latter shown below. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

The dapper Azores Chaffinch was the other land endemic seen on several of the Azores islands we visited, including Sao Miguel where this photo was taken. @sophieshrike.bsky.social #BirdingAzores

On a brief stop in Sao Miguel, Azores, we hiked up into the hills with resident guide, Gerby, and saw the rare Azores Bullfinch, or Priolo, as it's known locally. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Chuffed to find a 'flock' of three Barolo Shearwaters in the Azores, between Ilha do Pico and Sao Jorge. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Sailing out to the Azores - yesterday was an excellent Fin Whale day with 9 confirmed and another 8 probables! Also Striped Dolphins. Excited to be approaching the mid Atlantic ridge soon. @sophieshrike.bsky.social

The Great Glen skua portal opened up today, amazing to see Long-tailed Skuas thermalling over Loch Linnhe like giant Bee-eaters up to 1000m before whizzing northeast towards Inverness! 🪶 #ornithology #highlandbirds

Evening crake survey at RSPB Lakenheath Fen. Sadly no crakes but barn owl, water rail and nightingale were pretty good

Spending all my days on a fine wetland reserve certainly has its advantages! #BeardedReedling #RSPBLakenheathFen

Nothing to see here, just 22,400 Sabine's Gulls in one flock... 🤯🇨🇦😍 ebird.org/checklist/S3...

A striking Puss Moth from the trap at #RSPBLakenheathFen overnight was definitely my highlight #SuffolkMoths #MothsMatter

Sir David Attenborough… on your 100th birthday, we thank you. For a lifetime dedicated to the natural world, and for sharing its story with such grace and wonder. Generations have fallen in love with nature because of you. Happy birthday, Sir. 🎉

It's Swallowtail season soon! I'll be leading walks at the fantastic RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in celebration of it's 50th year of being open to the public, in hope of spotting these plus lots of other scarce wildlife of the area. #UKButterflies #UKBirding ➡️ Book here: events.rspb.org.uk/browse?filte...

The Ross's Gull at Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Essex, today was a little beauty and with patience it performed brilliantly! #RareBirdsUK #UKBirding #EssexBirding @sophieshrike.bsky.social

Blue Tits are a problem for Willow Tits, often taking over WT nest cavities by aggressive eviction. With 6 WT eggs inside, these BTs spent an entire day removing nesting material! The second day was full on warfare, ending in successful WTs. Now a full clutch of 8 eggs safely under incubation. Phew!

Birds in a bush including Nightingale. Tunnel Copse RSPB Lakenheath #Suffolk #SuffokBirds 🪶

Tawny pipit @ 14:50 today at Languard, Suffolk. Just a quick record shot before it quickly ran back out of view ✅️ #RareBirdsUK #UKBirding

The sound of Spring in Suffolk for me is the Nightingale. Great to have them back within walking distance of home. #SuffolkBirding

David Attenborough takes on PHEASANTS! “Native to Asia, but now released into our countryside on an industrial scale, over 30 million every year… eating vast numbers of insects, reptiles and amphibians every day.” Time for the Government to regulate this out-of-control industry #SecretGarden