Matthew Cookson
@gathorne.bsky.social
Ageing birder, north of Morecambe Bay and south and/ or west of the A590 and A591.
Watching & listening to British takes on the Bayeux Embroidery i thought back to a local Frech paper from 3rd Sepytember - what a headline!
September 18, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Watching & listening to British takes on the Bayeux Embroidery i thought back to a local Frech paper from 3rd Sepytember - what a headline!
Le Loir (sic), above La Loire, early this morning with Cetti's Warblers and Kingfishers just beginning to rev up for the day. In the background there was a chorus of 5+ Firecrests and 3 very irritated Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A 'peaceful' autumn start to Thursday...
September 17, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Le Loir (sic), above La Loire, early this morning with Cetti's Warblers and Kingfishers just beginning to rev up for the day. In the background there was a chorus of 5+ Firecrests and 3 very irritated Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A 'peaceful' autumn start to Thursday...
Poitou Charente: river Gartempe, today's highlights: english Osprey, blue ring right leg, probably female; Blackcaps singing, Chiffchaffs too; passing Wood Sandpiper; single Black Headed Night Heron over (two, two nights ago). Lots of House Martins, an occasional Swallow. Not too bad.
September 13, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Poitou Charente: river Gartempe, today's highlights: english Osprey, blue ring right leg, probably female; Blackcaps singing, Chiffchaffs too; passing Wood Sandpiper; single Black Headed Night Heron over (two, two nights ago). Lots of House Martins, an occasional Swallow. Not too bad.
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
“Guys, they want us to go home.”
🔥 🇫🇷 French short film about what would happen to society if all the immigrants listened to angry old racist white men and left (aka the Republican agenda)
🔥 🇫🇷 French short film about what would happen to society if all the immigrants listened to angry old racist white men and left (aka the Republican agenda)
September 13, 2026 at 1:22 PM
“Guys, they want us to go home.”
🔥 🇫🇷 French short film about what would happen to society if all the immigrants listened to angry old racist white men and left (aka the Republican agenda)
🔥 🇫🇷 French short film about what would happen to society if all the immigrants listened to angry old racist white men and left (aka the Republican agenda)
A garden window: Cateau Villandry
September 7, 2026 at 7:26 PM
A garden window: Cateau Villandry
At dusk yesterday in Sées, Normandy, I sat under tree into which 2 Tawny Owl flew. They called and for an hour and more were responded to by at least four others at all compass points. Not to be outdone, 2 Barn and 2 Little Owls added their contributions. The noise was fabulous - a great experience
September 4, 2026 at 7:45 PM
At dusk yesterday in Sées, Normandy, I sat under tree into which 2 Tawny Owl flew. They called and for an hour and more were responded to by at least four others at all compass points. Not to be outdone, 2 Barn and 2 Little Owls added their contributions. The noise was fabulous - a great experience
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
Comments on Newcastle Chronicle's Facebook show why we need Pride more than ever
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
Comments on Newcastle Chronicle's Facebook show why we need Pride more than ever
With Newcastle Pride now just days away comments on the Chronicle's Facebook show why we need to be celebrating it
www.chroniclelive.co.uk
July 25, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Comments on Newcastle Chronicle's Facebook show why we need Pride more than ever
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/wha...
Sitting under a roof nest and 2 of 3 occupied nest boxes listening to a gentle wittering of Swifts still inside. 6 Swifts this summer have already become 9 or more. It seems there are some to come. Happy that they appear to have survived the summer heat. Will try to get all 3 boxes occupied in 2027!
July 16, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Sitting under a roof nest and 2 of 3 occupied nest boxes listening to a gentle wittering of Swifts still inside. 6 Swifts this summer have already become 9 or more. It seems there are some to come. Happy that they appear to have survived the summer heat. Will try to get all 3 boxes occupied in 2027!
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
This is excellent
February 19, 2026 at 7:48 PM
This is excellent
Mull of Galloway after the 'Nine Tides', Gannets, Red-throated Divers and a passing pod of Porpoises.
January 13, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Mull of Galloway after the 'Nine Tides', Gannets, Red-throated Divers and a passing pod of Porpoises.
I just supported this case!
January 5, 2026 at 12:43 PM
I just supported this case!
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
Damn right! No excuse for it!
December 25, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Damn right! No excuse for it!
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
The border inspector’s 2022 description of Home Office data as “inexcusably awful” remains undefeated
The real asylum scandal is the incompetence of the Home Office inews.co.uk/opinion/the-...
December 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
The border inspector’s 2022 description of Home Office data as “inexcusably awful” remains undefeated
A good surprise in South Lakes yesterday: 1 Cattle, 2 Little Egrets, and 1 Great White Egret together at one site.
#UKbirding #ukbirds
#UKbirding #ukbirds
August 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A good surprise in South Lakes yesterday: 1 Cattle, 2 Little Egrets, and 1 Great White Egret together at one site.
#UKbirding #ukbirds
#UKbirding #ukbirds
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
Baron Hain, "Al Qaeda - real terrorism"
"ISIS - real terrorism"
"This Labour government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to ISIS or Al Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled, and morally wrong"
"ISIS - real terrorism"
"This Labour government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to ISIS or Al Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled, and morally wrong"
July 3, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Baron Hain, "Al Qaeda - real terrorism"
"ISIS - real terrorism"
"This Labour government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to ISIS or Al Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled, and morally wrong"
"ISIS - real terrorism"
"This Labour government is treating Palestine Action as equivalent to ISIS or Al Qaeda, which is intellectually bankrupt, politically unprincipled, and morally wrong"
On a beach in Dumfries, watching an Herring Gull dismembering, and eating a crab, I realised I was being bobbed and screamed at by a pair of Common Sandipers, and so moved off.
June 10, 2025 at 1:17 PM
On a beach in Dumfries, watching an Herring Gull dismembering, and eating a crab, I realised I was being bobbed and screamed at by a pair of Common Sandipers, and so moved off.
A nasty experience for a Blackbird. She came down the chimney into the wood burner and needed release. Already panicked, she missed the opened windows and thrashed against glass, screaming as she was gently held and given freedom. It was a dreadful sound, but she flew fast away.
#ukbirds #ukbirding
#ukbirds #ukbirding
June 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A nasty experience for a Blackbird. She came down the chimney into the wood burner and needed release. Already panicked, she missed the opened windows and thrashed against glass, screaming as she was gently held and given freedom. It was a dreadful sound, but she flew fast away.
#ukbirds #ukbirding
#ukbirds #ukbirding
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
@imogenwalker.bsky.social
Mr McSweeney and @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social: If you are still capable of feeling shame, now would be the time ↓.
Mr McSweeney and @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social: If you are still capable of feeling shame, now would be the time ↓.
May 14, 2025 at 8:29 AM
@imogenwalker.bsky.social
Mr McSweeney and @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social: If you are still capable of feeling shame, now would be the time ↓.
Mr McSweeney and @yvettecooper-mp.bsky.social: If you are still capable of feeling shame, now would be the time ↓.
Reposted by Matthew Cookson
Incredibly depressing day. I've spent my entire life being told by British governments how dreadful immigration is. New Labour did it. The Coalition. The Brexiters. Now Starmer. All of them accusing the ones who came before them of failing to clamp down. The same old vacant mean-spirited bollocks.
May 12, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Incredibly depressing day. I've spent my entire life being told by British governments how dreadful immigration is. New Labour did it. The Coalition. The Brexiters. Now Starmer. All of them accusing the ones who came before them of failing to clamp down. The same old vacant mean-spirited bollocks.
#ukbirding
You go away for a week and come home to fledgling Blackbirds shouting their hunger AND the Swifts screaming round the house and into nests.
You go away for a week and come home to fledgling Blackbirds shouting their hunger AND the Swifts screaming round the house and into nests.
April 29, 2025 at 8:53 AM
#ukbirding
You go away for a week and come home to fledgling Blackbirds shouting their hunger AND the Swifts screaming round the house and into nests.
You go away for a week and come home to fledgling Blackbirds shouting their hunger AND the Swifts screaming round the house and into nests.
#ukwildlife
Can anyone help identify this moth, please? Fluttering in a shed yesterday and admirably camouflaged against the desk.
Can anyone help identify this moth, please? Fluttering in a shed yesterday and admirably camouflaged against the desk.
April 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
#ukwildlife
Can anyone help identify this moth, please? Fluttering in a shed yesterday and admirably camouflaged against the desk.
Can anyone help identify this moth, please? Fluttering in a shed yesterday and admirably camouflaged against the desk.