More than just an archaeological site: the hill of al-Muntar, the highest point in Gaza city, is named after the shrine of Sheikh Ali al-Muntar at the top of the hill, which long hosted an important mawsim (festival) of the region.
Tree Sparrows near the visitor centre and you've a reasonable chance of Barn Owl, Kestrel, Linnet, etc.
That sounds great. June can be crowded at weekends, but the majority stick within 200-300m of the visitors centre and you've a loooong stretch of clifftop to play with, even if the viewing platforms are busy. Just make you're battery'ed and card'ed up! Also look out for the resident (contd)..
A Black Grouse coming into land from the right, with wings splayed and legs out, over moorland in the Yorkshire Dales. Photographed at distance from a vehicle with a long lens by Andrew Atkins in April 2025.
Apparently, something called #FlyDay is a thing, so here's a Black Grouse putting on the brakes as it comes into land.
Well worth the trip, Dave. Like Dylan, I go every year (outside of workshops) and I always think I can't get a better/different composition than previous trips - then I do! The hardest thing is concentrating on a single bird when panning as it's like being a kid in a old-fashioned sweetie shop.
This is beautifully photographed, Sarah. Thanks for liking my lapwing images and I see you're also a fan of the exceptional Victoria Haack.
The special on today's photographic menu is Lapwing, aka Green Plover, Peewit, etc. All images taken this week on the moors over Wensleydale. IMO, one of the hardest, but most rewarding, birds to capture in flight. #birds #lapwing #wensleydale #nikonz8
The trade dominance thing is another of the administration's bits of hubris, as the US is important across the international trade network, but doesn't have overarching dominance. My home is the UK, where the US isn't our top market in goods despite Brexit. The same goes for many countries.
Fabulous work!
NEW: The UK government, along with other Western governments, published an advisory containing a list of more than 100 malicious Android apps.
The apps were trojanized versions of two spyware families: BadBazaar and Moonshine, used to target Uyghurs, Tibetans, and Taiwanese ppl.
Male Black Grouse standing on a soil pile above Wensleydale in warm dawn sunlight.
Another from yesterday's dawn outing above Wensleydale. This one from when the lek was dispersing, so no display feathers, but a lovely warm light from the early sun on this male Black Grouse. Again, image taken from vehicle at distance with a long lens! #birds #blackgrouse #nikonphotography
Black Grouse male heading to the left on moorland above Wensleydale.
A pair of Black grouse males challenge each other in display on a lekking ground above Wensleydale.
#Wensleydale was full of mist after dawn this morning but before that, on the dale tops, it was glorious and the #BlackGrouse lek was in full swing. Note: parked well off the lekking ground before dawn and images taken with a big lens from the car. #birds #nikonschool
The amount of ignorance about US history you would have to possess to make a statement like this with a straight face is staggering. But it’s no surprise.
Companies House collects just £1,250 in fines in corruption crackdown
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
A message about the craft fair on May 3rd at Tennants Garden Rooms in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.
I'll be appearing at Tennants Spring Fair in Leyburn, alongside a host of other arty and crafty types. It's a good half-day out in Wensleydale so why not pop May 3rd in your diary. #craftfairs
Goosander in flight over water at WWT Washington.
Harlequin Duck preening itself on the bank in the sunshine.
Female chaffinch bird on a branch at WWT Washington
Picture of a waiting kestrel looking down from a tree
I led a 1-2-1 bird photography workshop yesterday at the excellent WWTWashington. Unfortunately, my client's camera malfunctioned within minutes of arriving, leaving them to cope with my unfamiliar NIkon Z8 all day. I've processed a bunch of their images and I think they did a great job. @nikon
Take 2 mins to demand that Meta stop targeting you with creepy personalised ads and content!
goodlaw.social/gk0i
Ah. Yes, it helps to have a few more-or-less birding family members 😊
Stick with it... I felt the same but, after being cajoled into playing by family a few times, it's a great game.
America’s loss is Canada’s gain
How eerily reminiscent of McCarthy and Vietnam eras
Prominent Yale professors flee Trump's America for new roles at University of Toronto www.thestar.com/news/gta/pro...
Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of going to the Bardsey Beer Festival. It was strictly a couple of beers for me, though, as I was there to photograph a mate's band. An unusual commission for me, but technically challenging and a lot of fun. Anyway, here are the exceptional Reggie & the Screamers!
⚠️ Same old Russian terror story: Kharkiv is under a massive Shahed attack right now, reports Mayor Terekhov. Around 10 explosions heard, residential buildings damaged, and a civilian infrastructure site hit.
I spent my Tuesday at an event in Warsaw listening to representatives from Polish civil society discussing their experience in fighting back against authoritarianism. Maybe it's time for pro-democracy groups in the US to start engaging with them because that's clearly not happening at the moment.
Very much worth reading this letter. Not everyone with a voice is rolling over., despite Musk's ignorant baiting.
Russia's crimes against Ukrainian children have been remarkably well-documented, particularly by the perpetrators themselves. isw.pub/SpecialRepor...
NEW: Elon Musk’s X has suspended accounts of Turkish opposition groups, suppressing footage of anti-government protests.
So, best we share all the footage we can here!
This was last night’s massive demo against Erdogan’s government, which follows the arrest of his rival Ekrem İmamoğlu.
🇹🇷 #Turkey
Cute. I'm wondering how many by then will withdraw diplomatic missions.
I imagine that both tactics might be in play through identical actions, but aimed at different cohorts/institutions. Dominance works for those you believe to be belligerent and loyalty works for those that are broadly aligned, but might stray if state actions become unpalatable.
I imagine that LM might face obstacles here relating to corporate structures in the sense that, ultimately, control would sit within the USA, as would all regulation of IP usage?
Ah, the wonders of one-sided language and perspective to rewrite the context. Unfortunately, the courts are now dealing with Gov't leaders and advisors well-versed in offensive lawfare.
