Sophie Cooper

Some good signs of spring in my Somerset garden: Forogspawn busy developing, the hedgehogs are back, 7-spot ladybirds and a few green shield bugs about 💚

Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) at gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire An outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) was confirmed yesterday at a large gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire. A 3km Protection Zone and a 10km Surveillance Zone have been…

Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) at gamebird rearing farm in North Yorkshire...

raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/04/o...

www.theguardian.com/music/2026/m...

David Byrne review – in life during wartime, this show will restore your faith in humanity Byrne again reimagines the possibilities of the live gig, creating a vision of egalitarianism backed by elastic bass and polyrhythms

David Byrne review – in life during wartime, this show will restore your faith in humanity

Protect caterpillars as UK’s moth population plummets, urge charities Instead of removing plant-munching caterpillars, gardeners asked to take relaxed attitude to support the moths many of them grow into

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Absolutely magical evening watching David Byrne and his hugely talented star musicians performing as part of the Who Is The Sky tour in Cardiff. They blew our socks off!! Pleased to see not many people filming as all busy living the experience!

Rival male frog (with a cloudy eye) & very vocally opinionated turned up in my Somerset garden pond on my next visit! Bird song too! Spring is arriving! 💚🐸
@froglife.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social

A pop into my #Somerset #garden and a very welcome sight in my pond: Frogspawn and ribbiting frog!🐸💚
@froglife.bsky.social #wildlife #nature

Good to hear #UnexpectedElements on #BBCWorldService celebrating the science behind the piña colada scent of gorse! My favourite! A countryside walk takes much longer with me stopping to sniff every 10 seconds...heavenly... I even have Lush's Furze perfume which is rather beautiful 💚

A deceased Puffin lies on its back on the ground. Wording above reads: Please report sightings of all dead birds. A graphic showing an exclamation mark in a triangle features.

⚠️ We've had reports of seabirds washing up. Please report ALL species of dead birds ⬇️

📍 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📍 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📍 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017 New EP Days of Ash features songs about Renee Good, Iranian protesters and other political topics, and precedes new ‘defiantly joyful’ album later in 2026 • Alexis Petridis on Days of Ash: six new tracks that reaffirm the band as a vital political voice U2 have released their first collection of new music since 2017 – a politically charged EP entitled Days of Ash, which focuses on a series of high-profile global deaths including the killing of Renee Good by ICE agents. Good, a mother of three children who was killed on 7 January while protesting against ICE activity in Minneapolis, is the subject of the opening song, American Obituary. Continue reading...

Bono lambasts ICE, Putin, Netanyahu and more as U2 release first collection of new songs since 2017

‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK Stay away from roses this Valentine’s Day, environmental campaigners have warned after testing revealed them to be heavily contaminated with pesticides. Laboratory testing on bouquets in the Netherlands, Europe’s flower import hub, found roses had the highest residues of neurological and reproductive toxins compared with other flowers. Continue reading...

‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds

Here's a few from last night, on Quantock Hills, Somerset! We have all ages of volunteers involved, children and adults🐸💚
#ToadPatrol

#ToadPatrol season is upon us and patrols are looking for volunteers.

No experience is necessary, but enthusiasm is a must! You will get to participate in one of the UK's most iconic wildlife events.

You can search for and contact your local Toad Patrol here: https://ow.ly/b2uS50Ycknh

The Sun has suddenly appeared, so a quick pop to the village snowdrop bank!💚
#Somerset #nature

More from last nights Toad Patrol, Quantock Hills, Somerset. Please keep a look out if driving near migration routes 💚
#wildlife #nature

How to become a Toad Patroller 🐸

www.froglife.org/what-we-do/t...

It's a very modest and subtle call 🐦🎶

Thank you🐸

More from last nights Toad Patrol, Quantock Hills, Somerset. Please keep a look out if driving near migration routes 💚
#wildlife #nature

Hooray! It's that time of year again and back on Toad Patrol! Sound up for annoyed, squeaky males! Joined by lots of palmate newts and a handful of smooth newts 💚
Quantock Hills, #Somerset #nature #wildlife

Bats, food security and the economy - Why bats matter - Bat Conservation Trust Bats matter to farming and the economy because they eat crop-damaging insects, reducing pesticide use and protecting harvests — helping farmers save mon...

Bats, food security and the economy - Why bats matter...

www.bats.org.uk/about-bats/w...

😆

I thought I heard them yesterday and today, there he was! The bullfinches are back in my Somerset garden hooray! He was tucking into the dried up blackberries. Pic taken through 2 sets of dirty windows💚
#birdoftheday #birds #nature #wildlife

Harry Hill + Laurel & Hardy @slapstickfest.bsky.social. My daughter's 28, we're both giant-Stouffer-sized Harry Hill fans but... she had NEVER seen Laurel & Hardy before! How lucky I was, child of the 80's & it was essential school holiday viewing. 'Wax eater' is our new insult of choice!

Image of a deceased Puffin lying on the ground. White wording on an orange background reads: Please report sightings of dead birds.

⚠️ Please report sightings of dead birds for possible testing for Avian Influenza. ⬇️

📌 In England, Wales & Scotland: www.gov.uk/guidance/...
📌 In Northern Ireland: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/...
📌 In Republic of Ireland: aviancheck.apps.serv...

#UKBirding #BirdingWales #BirdingScotland

Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio) YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Well I started Burn's Night (Day) with my own encounter with a 'Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,'... at the bottom of the bird food bin when starting my Big Garden Birdwatch!💚

🦇 Please do not disturb hibernating bats. Not only is it illegal to do so but it can endanger their chances of survival as they can use vital fat reserves when they become active unnecessarily.
If you find a bat in an exposed location please follow the advice on our website: www.bats.org.uk/advice

Painting featuring the head of a bat against a white background

Study of the head of a bat, 1888 by Beatrix Potter, not only an English writer and illustrator, but also a natural scientist and conservationist #womensart