iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Met4Cast @met4cast.net · 17/08/2026

Temperatures in the Mediterranean basin are now setting new all time temperature records by a fairly significant margin with much of the sea now at severe or extreme maritime heatwave levels. Devastating for wildlife & local ecosystems.

34631

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Met Office - weather and climate @metoffice.gov.uk · 15/07/2026

The Met Office State of the UK Climate report for 2025 demonstrates how climate extremes are becoming the new normal for the UK. Published today by Wiley in @rmets.org More details in the news release: bit.ly/4eZCnV4 Read the thread for some of the report’s key findings ⬇️🧵1/

48850

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Northstowe Swan shenanigans continuing. The two broods from the trio happily merged, but then, somehow, the four cygnets from the next lake also joined the group, so now three adults and sixteen cygnets, from three broods

Northstowe swans, three adults (male and two females) with three broods amalgamated, one each from the females, and now four cygnets from the pair on the next lake as well. The Black-headed Gull chick that had jumped from the raft to cool down was rejected, so they have their limits.

191

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Met Office - weather and climate @metoffice.gov.uk · 25/05/2026

Provisionally 13 sites have recorded a temperature higher than the previous May record of 32.8 Celsius

39934

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Interesting Mute Swan breeding in Northstowe, with two broods to one male. Third bird has been around since 2024, this is the first time it has bred. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Mute Swan brood 2, Northstowe, with the same male as the first brood

1101

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

A day for celebrating Sir David Attenborough, very proud to have been on our namesake ship several times, for trials and Antarctic science www.bas.ac.uk/polar-operat... @bas.ac.uk

RRS Sir David Attenborough during trials off Scotland

RRS Sir David Attenborough during a base call to Rothera

RRS Sir David Attenborough during a winter science cruise

130

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

1/ The 2025 BBS Report is out now! It was a record year for volunteers taking part, with 2,800+ visiting 4,058 survey squares across the UK, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. A huge thank you to our volunteers! @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

16438

Reposted by Hugh Venables

The Rare Breeding Birds Panel @ukrbbp.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

It’s the time of year to be out finding, recording and enjoying rare breeding birds, but it’s vital to put their welfare first. Here’s some advice from @markaeaton.bsky.social, and there’s a blog here tinyurl.com/RBBPsafe [1/2] youtu.be/5xXc9Dl7vwk?...

youtu.be

Putting birds first, pt1

YouTube video by Rare Breeding Birds Panel

14424

Reposted by Hugh Venables

British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

A new report from wildlife charity Buglife reveals that pesticides from common flea and tick treatments are now widespread in rivers across Britain and may be contributing to major declines in freshwater invertebrates bit.ly/4b1Pu50

bit.ly

Buglife News: Love Your Pet, Not Pesticides: New Report Warns of Flea and Tick Treatment Threat to Rivers

212891

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Spurn Bird Observatory @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

🧵 An urgent appeal to protect one of the UK’s most important Little Tern colonies at Beacon Ponds in 2026. Without funding for professional wardening, the project may not be able to run this season. ⬇️

23511

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Spurn Bird Observatory @spurnbirdobs.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

The Little Terns at Beacon Ponds have made a remarkable recovery, but they need urgent help to thrive in 2026. Your support can fund a professional warden, ensuring these birds are protected from threats. Please share and contribute if you can! gofund.me/83bf3bdd8

gofund.me

Donate to Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project, organized by Spurn Bird Obs

Without urgent support, the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project may not be able … Spurn Bird Obs needs your support for Save the Beacon Ponds Little Tern Project

02618

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Wintering Rothera jobs now listed for 2026/27/28 posts, for anyone who wants a year in Antarctica diving and/or boating and doing/supporting the year-round time series and benthic studies. Please share. www.bas.ac.uk/jobs/vacanci...

Small boat sampling, roles are Ocean Scientist (CTD time series, lab work, diving projects) amd Marine Biologist (large diving project). Plus Boating and Diving Officers and marine Operator to support them and other base needs for boating

Sampling continues through the winter, unique within the Antarctic Circle and rare anywhere in a polar environment

Ryder Bay, the time series point is in the middle, roughly where the chevron of rock between the glaciers points to

The marine team also monitor larger animals, including our Orca pod (as seen on Frozen Planet wave-washing seals)

064

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 27/12/2025

Eastern Black Redstart still at Sheringham, great bird and a bonus Great Shearwater this morning!

0100

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Prolonged views of a Bittern at Fen Drayton yesterday, and in the same place again today, from the main busway viewpoint over Elney Lake. Often heard here in spring and sometimes seen in flight, good to have a non-shy one @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Bittern at Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, from the main busway viewpoint at Elney lake

0151

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 20/11/2025

EPIRBs xkcd.com/3169/

Comic. [Two people transferring cargo between a dock and a ship on a cart. A box has fallen off of it into the water labeled “EPIRB: Water-Activated Distress Beacons, 1600 ct”] [caption] “Hello, Coast Guard? We’d like to apologize once again for the 1,600 simultaneous false alarms this morning...”

163004302

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

A bit of a "last dragonfly of the year" feel to the weather (and forecast). Good to see a few Common Darters still out at lunchtime in Cambridge

040

Reposted by Hugh Venables

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Worrying reports of bird flu (avian influenza) are coming in, including an outbreak in Whooper Swans in the Fens. Other waterbirds are also being affected, and cases are rising. 📷 Sick Whooper Swan by Kane Brides #UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Whooper Swan sick with bird flu in a field, photograph by Kane Brides

311485

Reposted by Hugh Venables

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

1/ Calling UK birders! 📢 We need your vital help to fill data gaps for bird populations outside the breeding season via the Winter Bird Survey ➡️www.bto.org/winbs #Ornithology #UKBirding

A Tree Sparrow perches on a branch showing its chestnut crown as snow falls. Wording over the image reads we need your help across the UK for the Winter Bird Survey starting in mid-September!

13827

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 31/08/2025

Upper ocean heat content (0 to 700 m depth) also set a new record high with the latest June data update (see my earlier post). Yikes! 🌊 Graphic/data (anomalies) from www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/globa...

Line graph time series of global ocean heat content for the 0-700 m layer for 3-month averages (red line), yearly averages (black line), and five years averages from the late 1950s to 2025 (blue line). There is a long-term warming trend. Ocean heat content is measured in 10^22 Joules with a y-axis range from nearly -10 to 35.

517172

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Carlos Moffat @carlosmoffat.com · 25/07/2025

🌊❄️🧪 🇦🇶 Please share: We have learned that the National Science Foundation is moving ahead with plans to decommission the U.S. Research Vessel/Ice Breaker Nathaniel B. Palmer this October. If you care about Antarctic research, please read on (1/n)

8317227

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Edward Pollard @epollard.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

The Cambs Local Nature Recovery Strategy is now open for consultation. Take a look at what is proposed our county and give your views. This strategy will influence planning & investment decisions for the county, so it is vital that we have robust plan yourvoice.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/lnrs/consult...

yourvoice.cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation - Your Voice - Cambridgeshire County Council - Citizen Space

Find and participate in activities run by Cambridgeshire County Council

031

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Plymouth Marine Laboratory @pml.ac.uk · 15/07/2025

The #SouthWestMarineEcosystems 2024 report reveals some big shifts in marine life - from unusual #jellyfish blooms and #salp swarms, to major fish mortality events and shifts in #fisheries catches 🦞🪼 Read the highlights and access the full report here: pml.ac.uk/news/new-sou...

pml.ac.uk

New South West Marine Ecosystems report published

This comprehensive report on the state of the marine ecosystems around the South West, including contributions from PML scientists, gives an wonderful overview of how the marine environment is fairing

022

Reposted by Hugh Venables

British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 10/07/2025

We went on a voyage into the depths of polar night on RRS Sir David Attenborough. The fab @itvnews.bsky.social team came with us, and made a short doc about the adventure! From hoardes of whales, to sticking a camera in a crevasse - there's something for everyone ⬇️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KbP...

1618

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

Amazing to lead this science trip. With three of us from Cambridge, two we picked up from Rothera, help from a couple of doctors and a great crew as always we got a huge amount done. Mud, nutrients, CTDs, phytoplankton and whales, plus getting swath data (very) near a few glaciers. Many thanks all!

090

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Prof Michael Meredith 🌊🧪🥼❄️ @oceanandice.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

📢 New paper alert! 📢 New insight into how sea ice controls the ocean uptake of carbon dioxide around Antarctica, obtained from the unique year-round Rothera Time Series. Delighted to be part of this study, led by the very excellent Elise Droste. 🧪❄️🥼🌊 www.nature.com/articles/s43...

nature.com

Sea ice controls net ocean uptake of carbon dioxide by regulating wintertime stratification - Communications Earth & Environment

Interannual variability of ocean uptake of carbon dioxide is governed by winter sea ice cover, according to analysis of carbonate chemistry observations along the West Antarctic Peninsula.

16431

Reposted by Hugh Venables

British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 17/06/2025

Goodbye Rothera Research Station, and good luck! 👋 After an unusual extra-long season, the #RRSSirDavidAttenborough has departed the UK’s largest polar research station for the winter. The station team will live and work at Rothera Research Station alone until October 💙 📽️ David ‘DJ’ Maxwell

27712

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Rothera winterers seeing us off with flares. Planes will be back in October, until then they'll be on their own for science and keeping the station running. @bas.ac.uk

0100

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Into the polar night down here on our very late visit to Rothera, but still good light for about three hours as dawn merges straight into dusk.

Sheldon Glacier near Rothera Research Station, West Antarctic Peninsula

2723

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

110 Humpbacks and a male Orca in a three hour survey through Lemaire Channel today. Amazing place and incredible amounts of wildlife still down here. @bas.ac.uk

0291

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Heading south for a winter trip to Rothera for a month. Taking the chance of a very late ship call to base to get some extra samples from the area. Stunning route out of Punta Arenas to start the trip, with several Andean Condors

0111

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Another Northstowe swan family started. An odd one, with three adults to go with the three cygnets. Same as last year, I assume the third adult is an offspring from an earlier brood. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

182

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Breeding Bird Surveys (BBS) @bbs-birds.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Falling finch numbers, fading farmland birds, declining Dippers and vanishing Cuckoo calls in England are worrying findings from the 2024 Breeding Bird Survey report out now! Read the report ➡️ www.bto.org/bbs-results @btobirds.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @rspbscience.bsky.social #Ornithology

616860

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Geograph Great Britain & Ireland @geograph-gbi.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

Our first photo, submitted 20 years ago today. Now over 7,950,000 photos of Britain and Ireland on the site - where will our eight millionth be? www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4

Woodchester Mansion, the first photo uploaded to the site (barring three test images)

052

Reposted by Hugh Venables

British Antarctic Survey 🐧 @bas.ac.uk · 29/01/2025

Commute getting you down? Try starting your day in Antarctica 🇦🇶 We're looking for boating officers, divers, chefs, generator technicians and more to work with us at British Antarctic Survey research stations. These are jobs unlike any other, in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. 🧵 1/2

An image of three people in a small orange boat navigating across water full of floating ice. It's labelled 'Today's Commute' with the grid reference for Rothera Research Station in Antarctica.

23110

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 26/01/2025

Newest view of trends in global sea surface temperatures. The cooling trend pattern continues in the eastern Pacific, while most all other areas significantly warm. + Data from @noaa.gov OISSTv2.1 (www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/opt...). + Graphic available for download at zacklabe.com/climate-chan...

Global map showing sea surface temperature (SST) trends for each year from 1982 to 2024. Most areas are warming, especially in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.

313540

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Bearded Reedling in Northstowe, 154th species for the new town. Have been hoping for them a while now. Ouse Fen being 5 miles away helps, and seems to be a lot around this winter. In a ditch I can see part of from the house, before sensibly moving to the lake @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Ditch the Bearded Reedlings were in. Can see the other end of the ditch from my house

Reed and reedmace fringe spreading in the new lake (well, 10 years old now)

0141

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

I'm guessing the visibility depends on whether you're at the top of a wave or at the bottom

031

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Fancy a year diving and doing oceanogrpahy in Antarctica, or know someone who might? Job advert out for wintering Ocean Scientist post (job previously known as Marine Assistant) and many others. Please apply, or share. bas.ciphr-irecruit.com/applicants/v...

Small boat sampling at Rothera. Normally someone from @plymbiomarsci.bsky.social on board

12214

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Some favourite penguins for #penguinawarenessday though I think some are more aware than others. Looking forward to getting back south to the penguins soon.

Adelie Penguin, Antarctic Peninsula (+snow algae)

0122

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Zack Labe @zacklabe.com · 18/01/2025

ICYMI - 2024 was also the hottest year on record for our oceans. Unfortunately, we now say this every year. 🥹🌊 + Data: www.ocean.iap.ac.cn + Study: doi.org/10.1007/s003... + Summary: www.carbonbrief.org/state-of-the...

Bar graph showing global ocean heat content change in the upper 2000 m from the late 1950s through 2024. There is a long-term warming in the time series.

12338164

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 13/01/2025

We go again with the rechargeable glider at Rothera, for another month looking at the phytoplankton bloom, glacier melt and the warm water melting the glacier. Many thanks to those on base for the launch (and photos, I was in my home office) @biopole.bsky.social @bas.ac.uk

Ocean glider prepped for deployment. Great to have the small boats at Rothera for easy launch

0132

Reposted by Hugh Venables

BTO | British Trust for Ornithology @btobirds.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

It's certainly cold outside! ❄️ If you’re out exploring this weekend, please be mindful of #birds that will be under extra pressure in these severe conditions and give them the space they need to remain undisturbed. Thank you. 🙂🐦 #UKBirding

17620

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Georgina Rannard @georginarannard.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Our planet's history recorded in ice just got about 50% longer! Beyond EPICA: Oldest Ice have reached the Antarctic bedrock and what is probably the planet's oldest ice - the trapped ancient air bubbles could help us better understand climate change. My story here www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Million year-old bubbles could solve ice age mystery

What is probably the world's oldest ice, dating back 1.2m years ago, has been dug out from deep within Antarctica.

39539

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

There are a lot of King Penguin photos out there labelled as Emperor, so unsurprising AI then struggles. GIGO.

AI image trying to be an Emperor Penguin, but looking more like a King Penguin

052

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Sofia Bolumar @turriachedda.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Think #stormpetrels just wing it to find a meal? 🍽️ Think again! Finally, our study is out: these tiny #seabirds use ocean dynamics to find #foraging grounds in the #WestMed. And guess what? Well-placed #MPAs help keep their ‘favorite restaurants’ open.🧑‍🍳 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

314051

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Nikolay Koldunov @oceanographer.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

🌊 Ocean currents around Antarctica from our high-resolution (3 km) ocean model. 🧪 #FESOM #SciArt

624660

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Great to have some time with the Whoopers in the Fens. Late on, 40+ Cranes seen very distantly heading towards Welney, and a large Starling murmuration north of the railway

Good water levels on the Ouse Washes, but likely to go up over the weekend

Whooper Swans (and Roe Deer) near Pymoor

030

Reposted by Hugh Venables

Geograph Great Britain & Ireland @geograph-gbi.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

To introduce ourselves here, we are a website collecting geographically interesting photos of Britain and Ireland, all geolocated and CC licensed for reuse. Still some grid squares with no photos, others with many, recording different details and changes over seasons and years. www.geograph.org.uk

Photos per square on Geograph for the area around Scafell Pike, Lake District

A recent submission to Geograph from grid square NH0168, Western Scotland

1217

Hugh Venables @deepseahugh.bsky.social · 22/10/2024

Lingering juv Common Tern in Northstowe, been around three weeks, now very late for Cambridgeshire

030