epollard.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Interesting snapshot into the lost downlands of Cambridgeshire. In particular the Pasqueflower on the Gog Magog hills. Whole the article points out that the chalk has largely been ploughed up, it is a shame it doesnt at least mention that @magogdown.bsky.social and others are actively restoring it

submitted 49 minutes ago • 1 comment

Just came along Newmarket Road by the airport. Contractors out mowing. Looks like there will be no Bee Orchids, and I think they also took out the Lizard Orchid. 😡 @jonheath.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

submitted 17 hours ago • 3 comments

Double digits Dingy Skipper on Devil's Dyke (Newmarket) today. I've never had more than 4 before. But the highlight was this Small Copper found by Paul Fisher

submitted 18 hours ago • 3 comments

Delighted to see good numbers of Pearl-bordered Fritillary on Dartmoor yesterday. At least 50 in an hour at Aish Tor. They seemed to like egg-laying in the cut bracken areas which had abundant small violets. They rarely lay on the violet but often nearby, inc Honeysuckle! @bcdevon.bsky.social

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

I've read that Marsh Fritillary need multi-location meta-populations. How does that explain the long-term persistence at small, single locations like Strawberry Banks? @martinswarren.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 3 comments

First Marsh Fritillary reported today from northern Suffolk. Earliest Suffolk record for them, I believe, since they were introduced in 2020 or 2021. Colony seems very established now. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social @epollard.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

My Norfolk swallowtail-seeking weekend with @greenwingstours.bsky.social has sold out but there are still places on day-trips – June 10th and 11th. I'm biased of course but it's a lovely day out. greenwings.co/our-holidays...

submitted 2 days ago • 1 comment

Lovely trip to Totternhoe Quarry on my birthday - 6 Duke of Burgundy, lots of Brimstones, 3 Holly Blues & about 6 Dingy Skippers. What a glorious day without a cloud in the sky! @wildlifebcn.org @savebutterflies.bsky.social

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Grizzled and Dingy Skipper both on the wing at Swaddywell Pit, W of Peterborough, now. This is the most reliable public site for seeing these species side by side in Cambridgeshire. (File photos)

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Green Hairstreaks on the wing for a third week @magogdown.bsky.social. Two recorded on this lunchtime's transect. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Ooh. This looks an absolute treat. @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social talking about his new book in Cambridge www.cambridgeliteraryfestival.com/events/rober...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

An early morning trip today to a well known Kent site for Early Spider Orchids (Ophrys sphegodes). The image to the right is what I suspect is a var. flavescens. @ukorchids.bsky.social

submitted 4 days ago • 2 comments

Calling river-lovers: your river needs you! The Big River Watch runs until 1 May. Spend 15 mins by your local river, record what you see in the free BRW app––& help create a clearer picture of UK river health. I'm taking part. More here. @theriverstrust.bsky.social theriverstrust.org/take-action/...

submitted 4 days ago • 7 comments

Everything else is so early this year that this coming warm spell could see Small Blue emerge on @magogdown.bsky.social Friday or Saturday perhaps.....

submitted 4 days ago • 5 comments

1. Because this issue is critical, but has received remarkably little coverage, here's a thread pulling out the key themes from my article yesterday, on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which puts decades of environmental protections to the torch. 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 6 days ago • 60 comments

❗️Important reminder from Natural England: 🐕All dogs must be on a short lead at Holme Fen NNR at all times, 1st March - 31st July. At @wildlifebcn.org owned/managed nature reserves, dogs should be on leads and out of the water at all times, all year. Thank you! www.wildlifebcn.org/nature-reser...

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

“The government’s planning and infrastructure bill is the worst assault on England’s ecosystems in living memory. It erases decades of environmental protections, including inherited EU legislation which even the Tories promised to uphold.” Please read & share. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 6 days ago • 4 comments

Really interesting to learn more about the vast and hugely exciting nature restoration project at the Rothbury Estate by the @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social and @northwildlife.bsky.social. £7m+ raised but need to get to £30m. My report here... www.theguardian.com/environment/...

submitted 7 days ago • 2 comments

I took this on the S African side of the Orange River in '94. But is it possible to say if this is Aloidendron pillansii, or A dichotomum? #botany #SANparks

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

As a passionate naturalist heavily allergic to grass pollen this Belgian study comes very close to home: Nitrogen enriched grasslands produce up to 6 x as much grass pollen (cfr 2 x as much hay) and allergic reaction to N enriched grass pollen is up to 5 x as strong www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Info on our walks this year. I'll be leading walks at Magog Down, just outside Cambridge, in early June. And then in Brampton Wood, near Huntingdon, in early July. With favourable conditions we should get a good set of species between these two sites.

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Butterfly Conservation is offering a brilliant chance for young people to learn about and help protect the threatened, iconic Marsh Fritillary butterfly across South and West Wales. 4 places are available. Applications from people aged between 18 and 25 are open now and until 28th April.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Members newsletter will soon be with you containing butterfly survey results for 2024. The numbers are not great. Peacock & Small Tortoiseshell had a particularly bad year, but on the plus side Dark Green Fritillary and Green Hairstreak numbers did bounce back.#savebutterflies

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Couple of pleasing sightings in my Cambridge garden in the last 24 hours. Looks like that vixen is lactating.

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Time to get The North Road by @robcowen.bsky.social to see if he passed this way too

submitted 9 days ago • 0 comments

Here are 27 videos for those learning ecology at school. Teachers (or pupils) am pleased to hear of suggested additions from my channel, videos to remove or gaps I could usefully fill. Good luck! youtube.com/playlist?lis...

submitted 9 days ago • 1 comment

From Landguard- Doing well for early butterflies though this week! A Common Blue almost three weeks earlier than last year.

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments