Sign in

Simon Mitchell

@perilsofbirding.bsky.social
211 followers 183 following 66 posts

Birder, Ecological surveyor, Bird tour leader, Academic Researcher and Conservationist

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Simon Mitchell
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Reform UK wants to shut this down. If it did so, it would throw a million people out of work. Why? because it is beholden to the fossil fuel industry. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK’s growing green economy worth more than £100bn a year, research finds
Net zero industry accounts for more than a million jobs and benefits whole country, according to CBI Economics
582331953
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
Sounds like you have a media literacy problem then.
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
It can absolutely be indiscriminate with reference to whether it kills combatants and civilians based on the type of ordinance being used but still informed by a target selection process. If you’re going to nitpick over semantics it helps to have some idea of the events themselves.
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
So Lammy and Starmer lied to the British people that UK reconnoissance flights were being used to inform the indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Gaza. Now they’ve let slip that we’ve effectively gone to war with Iran.
375
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
How would a book a bout the bird of Sheffield be useful in describing a national trend? There are probably fewer than 20 Rough-legged Buzzard records in Sheffield ever.
120
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
🎶That ain’t workin, that’s the way you do it, Missles for 5% of GDP🎶
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
To get a round of applause from a question time audience for openly criticising Churchill is pretty much unprecedented. Very skilfully and plainly explained.
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Colonisation? Were they ever not there?
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
“Retweet for awareness”
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
101
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
This is not a one off
101
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Nothing libellous when it’s self evident in the post above.
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Since he’s been cheerleading US & Israeli bombing in Iran (which resulted in 150 dead at a girls primary school today), I thought now would be a good time to out @zootherabirding.bsky.social as the virulent racist that he is. Wouldn’t be caught in a million miles of a Zoothera birding tour!
574
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
The hope is they churn out enough drivel to poison the future training datasets, which recursively degrades all AI capabilities. Best single action for bird photography would be for Cornell actively pursuing and prosecute anyone who scrapes the MacAulay library
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
For me, I think the extensive ash-grey on the forehead rear of face and ear coverts is the thing that stands out the most
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Not sure why it is about these birds , but they are extremely distinctive looking. Even scrolling through the feed I clicked it before reading your text
210
Reposted by Simon Mitchell
Chris Green @chrisbirder.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
I'm not exaggerating, almost every dog owner I know would be just fine with this. When I suggest they should consider wildlife when out walking their dog they look at me as though I'm mad.
6316
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Who needs AI bots, when this guy can steal your content just the same
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
A dapper wintering Bluetail at @wendlingbeck.bsky.social continues to show on & off today. Bird on private land & owners are keen for birders to be help not hinderance to the community. Therefore, I've been asked to organise a donation pot for St Mary's Church upkeep. ko-fi.com/simonleomitc...
1445
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Just gonna leave this interesting article here www.ibm.com/think/topics...
ibm.com
What Is Data Poisoning? | IBM
Data poisoning occurs when threat actors manipulate or corrupt the training data used to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models.
020
Reposted by Simon Mitchell
Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
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.
1196
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
‘Ai generated content’ 🤡
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Absolutely stunning thing. Surely the most impressive new bird species since Scarlet-banded Barbet?
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 30/11/2025
Not sure the guy who snuggly ate Ortolan on camera and constantly uses his TV show to moan about badgers and neonicotinoid bans is the best person to be writing the article though…
020
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
That’s totally fair enough, which is why I was initially asking it as a question before the other bloke chimed in.
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
You’re obsessed pal.
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
If they just pick them all, photograph them and leave them to rot, yes. Goodbye
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Legal ≠ ethical. Have a nice day.
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Makes me feel a bit daft for pretty much giving up on searching for the autumn a week. Kind of feel like it needs a colder snap to get things to move around a bit again though..
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Flowers also decay as soon as they reach peak bloom. It’s not ethical to kick over a dead tree just because it’s decaying. It’s complete disregard for anyone else’s enjoyment of nature to do this, in part because it’s also complete unnecessary to achieving the photos.
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Except that analogy is wholly flawed because he’s removed a fruiting body before it has wholly ripened. The comparison would be to pulling the most of the flowers off an apple tree before the fruit developed.
200
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
You pulled it up just to take photos of it?
200
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Google release ‘nano banana’ a couple of days ago and for a lot of contexts it seems to require a very trained eye to recognise it…
010
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Looks like AI to be too. Even the position of the eye looks wrong
120
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Numbers on the coast were poor this autumn - just a two birds in late Sept Easterlies on Blakeney. I did see two still on breeding grounds in W Galway on 12th October so maybe some were late departing?
020
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
media.tenor.com
a little girl is sitting in a car seat and making a funny face .
ALT: a little girl is sitting in a car seat and making a funny face .
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
That supermarket trolley is crying out for a late autumn Waterthrush!
110
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Oh yeah, those Leicester Duskys keep the dream alive for me when I’m back visiting the Doncaster area. Still never been one in the Doncaster District (or S.Yorks afaik). Do you think it was something special about the microclimate / habitat?
120
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Incredible a'noon at Caister. First a Pallas's flitting through in a huge tit flock. Then another glimpsed warbler, silent & elusive. After a heard only bird at Thornham y'day I wondered if I just hallucinate Hume's Warblers. Till it popped up calling. And a Dusky calling too!
1373
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
Winter Golden Plover flocks too…
120
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
Yomping the Norfolk coast. Blackbirds everywhere; 'tseeping' from under every hedge. Woodcocks errupting at my feet. A Short-eared Owl winging in over brown waves at Cart Gap. Then in the gathering gloom a glowing rump and seven illuminated stripes. What late autumn is all about.
0643
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
What software are you using for the count Alex?
140
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Very happy to find this Pallid Swift at Cromer this a'noon - a typical chameleon in different light conditions, it gradually shifted towards East Runton after being repeatedly mobbed by a Pied Wag(!) Also marks my most-wanted birding milestone - my 300th species self-found in Britain and Ireland!
1722
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
The FIFA that can’t stop taking bribes from the gulf states is basically an openly corrupt cesspit of corporate grifters seeking only to enrich themselves at ever possible opportunity? That FIFA?!
010
Reposted by Simon Mitchell
Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
"The Treasury....plans to gut green rules with amendments to its planning and infrastructure bill – ditching the precautionary principle, slashing species protections and curbing legal challenges" Indefensible This must be fought tooth and nail www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Labour targeting nature: the problem isn’t snails, but a broken housing model | Editorial
Editorial: Rachel Reeves’s drive to speed up development is beginning to treat wildlife and the environment as expendable. Voters want homes built, but not at any cost
27334
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
How far from Eastington gas terminal was this taken?
100
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
Congratulations, looks like your dog deserves an award for its ability to disturb wildlife.
000
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
They certainly seem to have more considerable local movements than the British race. Had 50+ birds in the gardens on Loop Head (Co. Clare) on 5th October 2012, where they don’t breed. Very plausible odd ones would make it to the Hebs.
020
Reposted by Simon Mitchell
EcoFriendly West @ecofriendlywest.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Global pet food emissions rival those of a small country. Switching dogs to plant-based foods could slash emissions tenfold—without sacrificing nutrition.
anthropocenemagazine.org
Researchers compare the footprint of meat vs. plant-based dog foods. The differences were staggering.
Global pet food emissions rival those of a small country. A new UK study reveals that switching dogs to plant-based foods could slash emissions tenfold—without sacrificing nutrition.
084
Simon Mitchell @perilsofbirding.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
It’s certainly what the radar showed over continental US (see previous pics). Also one of the mechanisms Elkins (2004) cited for transatlantic vagrancy…
000