This is Maria, Jonathan's partner.
I wanted to share details of 2 events we’re organising in Leeds + Scotland this summer to celebrate Jonathan's life.
All the info is here: sites.google.com/view/celebr…
Thanks for all your kind words over the past few weeks - they make a difference!
We are very sorry to share the sad news that Jonathan passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at home on May 24th.
Thank you very much for all your support for him over the years.
—- Maria (Jonathan’s partner)
If you’d like to get in touch, feel free to email Maria on maria.do[email protected]
OK everyone. My lack of enthusiasm for right-wing extremism and sexbots means I'm outta here for now - will only post on here if I find a Chestnut-sided Warbler on my patch - but have migrated to the other place: bsky.app/profile/jdean1982.b….
The latest in my occasion series, “birds in totally random situations in horror TV/cinema”. The crime family in the Netflix horror series ‘ The Fall of the House of Usher’ funding egg collecting on Keyhaven Marshes…
For some reason most dabbling duck species seem to have an aversion to my local patch, so these Teal on Tocil Lake by Warwick Uni campus were, for me anyway, much the most exciting of the 54sp I encountered on a patch stroll this morning.
Nice visit to Brandon Marsh first thing which yielded 58sp: "record shot" of a Bittern in the half light and a rather more obliging GWE. ebird.org/checklist/S1605875…
A month and a day into 2024 and I've stuck to my new year's resolution of doing at least one @Team_eBird checklist every day. Although some checklists have been a bit thin, such as they day I basically forgot and then rushed out into the darkness to record 1 Robin and zero owls.
For second consecutive night I have dreamt of there being Waxwings in my garden. Such are the rather unsophisticated unconscious desires of the frustrated birder: sometimes a Waxwing is just a Waxwing.
Bad photos from a patch stroll around Warwick Uni campus this morning: Red Kite, Goosander, Cormorant and mixed thrush flock.
This is the eBird distribution map for Willow Tit records 2020 onwards. Records in Norfolk and North Hants may relate to just single birds, and others may, I suspect, not withstand more robust scrutiny. Basically gone from East Anglia, SE, SC England and even south Mids.
A shame there isn't reliable data on this. Folk lamenting a supposed lack of young birders has been a constant since I started birding in 91. To me there seem to be more young all-round birders (but fewer twitchers) than in the 90s, although I appreciate that's merely anecdotal!
The local Redwing seem to have discovered the berry-ridden bush in the neighbours' garden. A glimmer of hope perhaps that our crested trilling friends might finally grace our neighbourhood with their presence...
In Leeds today so spent a few hours at St. Aidans. What a superb site it is. 67 sp, highlights Glossy Ibis, Water Pipit, Whooper Swan, Bearded Tit, Brambling, Marsh Harrier, GWE, Little Owl. Good times.
Jonathan Dean retweeted
A polar vortex (the brutal cold!) & a New Year 4-night stand at Carnegie Hall 10 years ago. A meandering acoustic journey through the past ~ Neil Young performing touching tributes to Bert Jansch (debut of Needle of Death, that Ambulance Blues emerged from) & Phil Ochs' Changes.
Sorry to continue spamming your feeds with my absolutely faltering attempts at swan ID, lol. However, I have fiddled about with my appalling shots and you can see the yellow bill bases on some birds, such as this one for which the pattern looks ok for Whooper. 1/2
Ok, so most respondents saying Whooper but I’ve had several suggesting that shape and proportions suggest Bewicks, improbable as that is. Further input very welcome, but I fully accept I/we may not be able to fully resolve this.
