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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 13/05/2024

Snaps of variable quality from recent birding trip to Austria, part 2 of 2. Red-throated Pipit, Collared Flycatcher, MS Woodpecker, Pec Sand.

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 13/05/2024

Snaps of variable quality from recent birding trip to Austria, part 1 of 2. Great Bustard, Imperial Eagle, Red-footed Falcon, Long-eared Owl.

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 30/04/2024

Setting off on a mini European train adventure. Today Cov-London-Brussels-Cologne then tomorrow Cologne-Vienna followed by 5 days birding in eastern Austria and western Hungary. Then, over the course of a few days, Bratislava-Vienna-Munich-Zürich-Paris-London-Cov. #lowcarbonbirding #ukbirdkng

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 25/04/2024

Did a 7 mile walk from the house early am. 64sp, none super unexpected but vaguely notable things included Garden + Reed Warb, Whitethroat, Red Kite, Peregrine, Yellowhammer. Sadly no Marsh Tit in the usual spot, looks like their local extinction may be imminent. Y'hammer and fox pics... #UKbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 11/04/2024

Watching the skies from my house this morning was a hit underwhelming but I did rack up 30sp including my first House Martin of the year #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 08/04/2024

Most notable feature of a local patch stroll this morning was a big arrival of Willow Warblers - 22 in total - more than double previous highest count for the patch. Swallow was nfy but not much else of note. #ukbirding #westmidsbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 30/03/2024

Still in Fife and had a few hours to myself this afternoon so did some birding around St Andrews. Nothing mega-surprising but did find Slav Grebe, Velvet Scoter, Sand Martin, Purple Sand, a few BN Dolphins. And 2 Tufted Duck were, I think, the first ones I’ve seen on the sea in Fife #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 26/03/2024

In Fife again at the moment, this time with kids in tow so birding has been minimal, but today I did managed to locate Crossbill, Raven, Dipper, some PF Goose flocks and some Tree Sparrow. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 18/03/2024

A long but pleasant day birding in and around Middleton, the "Minsmere of the Midlands". A total of 73sp included my first Avocet, Green Sand and Sand Martins of 2024, a sadly heard-only drumming LSW. It does not include the continuing anas crecca carolinensis, or an iffy RB Goose. #UKBirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 14/03/2024

Best of 57sp on a patch stroll this morning were Redpoll, Red Kite, Goosander, a bit of Mipit movement, and lots of Chiffs now in situ. #UKBirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 09/03/2024

A family visit to Brandon Marsh was a mixed success in terms of kids' levels of interest in the wildlife and capacity to not make a noise in hides! Most interesting of 52 bird sp were GW Egret and my first local Redshank of the year. #UKbirding

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Reposted by Jonathan Dean

Steve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 08/03/2024

Heads up #ukbirding and #birding folk! @alantilmouth.bsky.social has set up a #LowCarbonBirding feed! It’s a forum for those of us pursuing low carbon options for birding and life. A place to discuss with like minded folk and to post about your LCB activities. Cross tag to promote LCB to others!

A view from Knucker Hill of Loch of Burness and the village of Pierowall in the distance, Westray, Orkney Isles. A black and red electric bicycle in the front left foreground.

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

Got the train to Brum today and had an enjoyable few hours at Sandwell Valley. Highlight of 52sp was the long-staying Smew, as well as first singing Chiffs of the year, Cetti's Warbler, Kingfisher, Goldeneye, Barnacle Goose, Water Rail etc. #UKbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 04/03/2024

Academic self-promotion alert, sorry. Absolutely thrilled to have contributed a chapter about neoliberalism to this amazing edited collection of scholarly essays about the Pet Shop Boys, who I've been a massive fan of since I saw 'Go West' on TOTP in 1993, aged 11.

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 03/03/2024

Did a 90min “skywatch” from the house in the calm sunny conditions this morning. Nothing scarce but lots of activity: 24 Buzzards, 6 Sparrowhawk, 4 Raven. Also enjoyed watching broody LBB Gulls on nearby rooftops! #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 28/02/2024

So, I'm currently taking a period of leave from work during which time I am writing a book! About birding! It won't hit the shelves for a while yet, but am enjoying it so far. To that end, I'm curious to hear from fellow birders what you think are the main challenges facing the #UKBirding community?

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

This is a bit random - and wholly unrelated to birds - but I appeared as a guest in a YouTube series about the band Sparks, talking about neurodivergence and gender politics (among other things). It is here if you wish to avail yourselves: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pM1i...

youtube.com

Sparks Entertainment and Art (12): Jonathan Dean on Sparks, Neuro-Divergence, and Sexual Politics

Blog with lots of Sparks stuff! https://montesnewblog.blogspot.com/Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonteMallinJoin me in a compelling and extremely i...

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 23/02/2024

Photos of some (literally) common birds on patch this morning: Common Buzzard and Common Gull, plus worm. #UKbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 21/02/2024

Well better late than never I managed to get Waxwing for my house/patch list. First saw them whilst having a cup of tea downstairs, so legged it upstairs to the spare room where my bins were and managed good views of 23+ birds for about a minute before they flew off SE. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 17/02/2024

Bad photos of standard central Fife fare from a walk from my mum's house in Ceres this morning: Dipper, Tree Sparrow, distant Grey Partridge, Blue Tit living dangerously. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 16/02/2024

A day trip by train into Perthshire today. Highlight 2 distant male Black Grouse at a site where I had seen them a few times in the 90s. At least my foolhardy decision to lug my scope on a 10km undulating walk was not in vain. Supporting cast included Nuthatch, Crossbill and Red Kite. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 14/02/2024

In Fife for a few days. Did some birding around St. Andrews this afternoon. Decent variety despite crap weather and visibility: highlights PB Brent, LT Duck, Scaup, Pintail, loads of Sanderling etc. Only vaguely photogenic birds were these Purple Sandpipers below the golf museum car park. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

First birding stroll around my Coventry/Warwick uni local patch since joining on here was, well, pretty underwhelming. 54 species, the most enjoyable probably a flock of just shy of 100 Siskin with a few Redpoll. #ukbirding

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

Someone googled "Dean Leeds Uni" (or similar), mistook my surname for a position of authority, and sent me angry missives about an issue over which I have no influence. This is the 3rd time this has happened! I'm not the Dean, Simon King is not the monarch, nominative determinism is not your friend.

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Jonathan Dean @jdean1982.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

Hello Cleveland! In the "other place" I used to have two accounts - one for birding and one for work/politics - but am going to merge them here, thus alienating everyone.

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