Sign in

John Preston

@johnpleeds.bsky.social
396 followers 246 following 2.3K posts

Dabbler in environment, moths, stained glass, private pilot, when not with the Development team at The Conservation Volunteers. Own views.

PostsRepliesMedia
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 19h
The robin once again chipping and singing ahead of the rising son. #FirstBirdofMyDay
0140
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
@soapywittank.bsky.social a family of ten today, one youngster with no Darvic ring I think. Plumage entering the dirty snow phase
151
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A dunnock singing in the garden. #FirstBirdofMyDay
0110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Superb Sarah.
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Keep sharing if you wish, Allan your work is a joy to see.
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A robin chacking away as I waited for the York train from the local station. Last of the dawn rosy glow over the Coop and the terraces #FirstBirdofMyDay
0150
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I find green moths just rather special, yet to see one of these though. The greens seem to fade quickly
120
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We were at maybe 3000 at a bit offshore. The castle was off in our landward side.
100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I have my Dad's petrol ones from the 1970s
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Nice, were you there yesterday maybe 4pm. If so a little plane went passed over the sea, you probably thought noisy beggar.
100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Flying up the East Coast before Dunbar yesterday
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
@hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social the Bass Rock yesterday from 2000 foot. It will be there next year waiting for you. Hope you are feeling better
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A blackbird clucked quietly in the front maybe testing fallen tiny yellow apples. A pair of blue tits browse the leaves for bugs in the back as tea brewed #FirstBirdofMyDay
0150
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
So true. We need to be creating and nurturing health all year, there are too many gone too soon and far too many impoverished lives.
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
This beautiful common ? Marbled Carpet was the sole moth central Leeds last night. Struck lucky as it dropped off the vanes of the trap and down the funnel as I removed the batteries for the LED. I usually have the ones with the big square orange wing patches #TeamMoth Black and actinic nil !
080
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Ungrateful bird. A robin inexpertly singing in the front garden, rather hoarse and unsure of itself. A cuffle of starlings picking the wet grass in the park quite separate from the crows. A dead juv magpie soggy and multi coloured in the allotment track . Just one moth #FirstBirdofMyDay
1150
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Yeh, they are back !!!!!!!
120
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It was an honour to know him for maybe 15 years - served in the desert - met a Czech refugee who had escaped on one of the last boats down the river. Fought the length of Italy. Went back to Egypt and found her. Taught in special schools. he would be a 105 or so today.
100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The crows arguing early seems a set start to our day, unless the robin chipping is patrolling the patch. It's so grey here I have the light on the keyboard. A dunnock checking the woodstore gutter for snacks, she was barely visible in the gloom. #FirstBirdofMyDay
0130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Have a lovely day, I hope the list is long with a few surprises.
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
My long gone SOE veteran friend would have loved this. RIP Ross. Years of guided tours for children in the wildlife garden at TCV. Very much into folklore and the little people.
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Once I was level with it in the narrow canal, it calmly set off fishing.
120
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Spotlight on heron. I got much closer but thel light changed @everyheron.bsky.social
062
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
A robin singing away despite this grey gloomy day. #FirstBirdofMyDay
1130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Fine tower. Interesting collage concept.
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Nice, have to love a yaffle.
030
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Well the crow and robin called and sang early, however the first seen bird was this heron that stoically ignored the luminous cyclist edging closer along the towpath and two runners, before deciding it was time to start fishing. #FirstBirdofMyDay
1130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
A crow here too. Noisy in the rowan hedge that runs along the back alley. Prefaced by the robin that long before dawn proclaims our tiny habitat the heart of his largely concrete territory #FirstBirdofMyDay
0100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Always great when us older ones get the tech to work. For a while I had the songs ina PowerPoint of garden birds. I had been asked to talk to a partially sighted group.
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Hope things are improving for you? Lots of corvids here too, calling early and I think crows and jackdaws in mass in the park working the turf. #FirstBirdifMyDay
050
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A quiet moth night. Once again the home backyard out numbering the allotments. Total 9 LYUW, LBAM at set up and one Eudonia angustea, feeds on ivy blossom that we have and larva on moss, maybe the log and bike sheds roofs #TeamMoth what are those shirt dangle things on crane fly? Moon competition
1100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I hope the presentation goes well and the prof does not fall asleep in a tutorial !
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Nice, and a change of subject. Are you considering the off shore tax haven?
101
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I found one in Scotland to mark a recent 80th birthday. I hope they get to sit in it.
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I hope you are Ok ? And just walking past the hospital. A robin singing early at home and then several in the hedge along the canal cycling into work. #FirstBirdofMyDay a heron from yesterday.
0130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Booo, and flash !
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Sorry early morning brain fog, read that as if song birds !
100
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Three broods in one year is impressive
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
@soapywittank.bsky.social heading of town at Redcote Lane today. Are this family one of yours?
131
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
A robin singing in the back yard. #FirstBirdofMyDay
0130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Man's simpler response. Don't fancy flying that sky !
The new junction canal and Southfield Red. Barnby Dun S Yorks
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The crows once again. At one stage a whole frenzy of almost continuous crawing from several birds, at least one flying as the sound moved around #FirstBirdifMyDay
0111
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Seen from the train. A field of corvids enjoying a feast in the wet grass as the tints of autumn deepen. Snuggle down with a book ? hope it clears soon #FirstBirdofMyDay
0130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Hey ho indeed. My Grandparents lived in Great Sankey. Commiserations. Hopefully family make up for the view.
110
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Just the regular crow calls out on the edge of the crow "pack" reflecting that there are more in the streets up by the takeaways. Often 6 or 8 together #FirstBirdofMyDay
0130
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Possibly the one by the Hepworth? I wonder if he just decided enough!
020
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Well painted.
010
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
There are such Iridescent beauties if you get the light right.
020
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Any thoughts on if this is a dotted fan foot #TeamMoth
150
John Preston @johnpleeds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Highlight of this morning's traps. Plus about 20 large yellow underwing and 5 misc #TeamMoth
Angleshades last seen at home 5 years ago, before I built my first trap.
0100