LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Ian Denton

@iand777.bsky.social

The Song Thrush is as keen on bathing, as it is of singing.
A lovely piece by #MarkCocker below - my personal favorite writer of the #GuardianCountryDiary - always so well observed.
#ukbirds #nature 🦉🌿

November 18, 2025 at 12:04 PM

Merisi Vienna

@merisi-vienna.bsky.social

#Swifts #Birds #MarkCocker
#NestBoxes

Migrating swifts loyally return every year to nests in buildings, study finds

Conservationists emphasise importance of protecting nesting sites used by ‘strongly faithful’ red-listed species

www.theguardian.com

July 29, 2026 at 8:51 AM

Kathryn Parsons

@kathrynparsons.bsky.social

SO encouraging to hear about the Nature Action work in John Clare Countryside at today's conference! Many thanks to @tonyjuniper.bsky.social #markcocker & all.

And thank you for inviting @sarahlambert7.bsky.social & me to exhibit some of work - & for including us in the report!! 💚

December 10, 2024 at 4:57 PM

Gill Hughes

@gillhughes.bsky.social

Lovely #Guardian #CountryDiary here from #MarkCocker and close to our #OutdoorCity #Sheffield #MonsalDale #Derbyshire #redwings
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Country diary: The redwings have arrived – but why are they so skittish? | Mark Cocker

Monsal Dale, Derbyshire: Of the five common thrushes that call Britain home, these are the most unpredictable and least approachable

www.theguardian.com

November 20, 2024 at 8:53 AM

Kathryn Parsons

@kathrynparsons.bsky.social

#MarkCocker uses the phrase Nature-action. I like it - it expresses intention, urgency & action.

So, Thank You to everyone involved in nature-action of every kind. Every positive action counts & is desperately needed.

(digital collage of ex-gravel pit, now a recovering #Langdyke nature reserve)

A dream-like view of reeds, teasels, water, hedge and a light cloudy sky. The images is made of layers of photographs taken on a single walk on the site of an ancient flood-meadow. There's a church in the far distance. The clouds are fluffy and light. There's a swirl of pale cream / white marks - evocative of a flock of small birds moving through the landscape. The feeling is of soft sunshine on an autumn morning.

December 15, 2024 at 9:27 AM

Gill Hughes

@gillhughes.bsky.social

Lovely homage to #PadleyGorge #PeakDistrict #Derbyshire from #MarkCocker for #CountryDiary
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Country diary: An ancient oakwood of hydra-headed beasts | Mark Cocker

Padley Gorge, Derbyshire: These trees have been coppiced and pollarded, so that the whole sense of an oak as a sky-seeking organism is gone

www.theguardian.com

February 3, 2025 at 9:25 AM

Gill Hughes

@gillhughes.bsky.social

"... they unfurled circles of sparkling white across the dark upland water." Beautiful #Guardian #CountryDiary by #MarkCocker #MandarinDucks

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Few do magnificence quite like the mandarin duck | Mark Cocker

Fernilee, Derbyshire: You could hardly blame them for flaunting their spectacular plumage, and that’s what the males do in their glittering mating display

www.theguardian.com

December 3, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Merisi Vienna

@merisi-vienna.bsky.social

One of my favorite books! 💙
#Swifts #Birds #MarkCocker

"One Midsummer’s Day is a wonderful book – literally, a book of wonders. Cocker is a firmly grounded visionary." John Banville