An outrageous total of 225 moths of 11 species trapped last night in my E Norfolk garden. I usually treat this first weekend in March as the first trap outing of the year, and it usually produces just a handful of moths. Highlight was 3 Small Brindled Beauties, my first since 2001 and new for garden

Chiffchaff in the garden here in E Norfolk, my earliest returning bird by 5 days

Btw, this info is all down to the @btobirds.bsky.social Atlas projects and the volunteers who collected the data. The new Atlas is starting next year, 2027-2031, and it's well worth taking part to give us updates on the incredible level of information we have in the maps below. #ukbirding

📢 Job Alert: Monitoring officer I am looking for an experienced ornithological fieldworker to join the team this spring to lead on the monitoring of Black tailed godwits at WWT Welney. Closing date: 6 March 2026 Apply ➡️ vacancies.wwt.org.uk/vacancies/77...

Wheatfen reserve needs a new warden! Details of the job and how to apply can be found here: wheatfen.org/about-us/car...

2026 Sawfly season started for me today with 2 Sooty Grievers (Dolerus anthracinus) at Millington Pastures VC61. Associated with quality chalk grassland here and flies (very) early, so is it really as uncommon as 2 records in last 50 years suggests? @ynuorg.bsky.social #yorkshiresawflies #symphyta

It's ask the audience time. My current binoculars strap/harness is a nuisance - too springy and when I adjust it, it slips and needs readjusting each time I put them on. There are far too many options online though, so does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

"Spring" reporting for duty here in east Norfolk today - Brimstone, Peacock, Early Bumble and Pied Shield-bug all at large in the garden.

I've just released V2.2.0 of g21u. It includes some issue fixes - mostly requested by @andymus.bsky.social - and a couple of enhancements I needed (described in the documentation if you are interested).

This could be my new pan-listing obsession. A great site to keep track of your species lists, and compare with others. panspecieslisting.com

Oh, considerably smaller than I was expecting

Stop press - the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker monitoring module is now freely available for all to use on BTO @btobirds.bsky.social Acoustic Pipeline app.bto.org/acoustic-pip...

I was watching the new BBC sitcom Small Prophets this evening and had to pause when, in episode 3, there appears to be a lot of Aponogeton distachyos, Cape-pondweed, in the canal! #TVBotany @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Oh hey, it's my book! Due out next week!!

We're trialling something new this year at the BSBI - an activity designed to support absolute beginner botanists with identifying *and* recording their first ever 100 plants in 2026 🌿 If you know anyone that might like to take part then please spread the word: bsbi.org/take-part/ac...

Checkout our new Woodpeckers design, available on t-shirts, tops, hoodies and mugs. aluladesigns.co.uk/s... #Birds #BirdArt #UKBirding

Does anyone on here have a good technique for everting a moth’s aedeagus? I have had success pushing/pulling it through but that doesn’t always work. I can’t source an affordable pipette that’s fine-tipped enough (one in photo has outside diameter of 0.8mm - needs to be nearer 0.25mm). #TeamMoth

Can you find, identify & record 100 wild plants in 2026? BSBI is confident that (with our support) yes, you can! Beginner botanists, will you accept the challenge? Sign up today for #100Plants2026 challenge: bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Check out the webinars & #WildFlowerID help we've prep'd for you!

Species 2,930 for my home 1 km square, an Otter by torchlight whilst emptying the dog. Have seen on the nearby Tas previously but, surprisingly, never on Shotesham Common. Hope it sticks around!

It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book. I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.

1/ Survey! 📝 How are automated species identifications from passive acoustic monitoring verified and quality-assured in practice? #bioacoustics Take part here ➡️ forms.gle/Ak3eYgZivUPa...

I'm in need of a new bridge camera. Don't suppose anyone has Canon SX70 tucked away in the cupboard they no longer use and looking to sell? Good working order. Thanks #birdinggear

Fantastic! Explains the lack of rhinos in my garden

Voxpop request: Panurus biarmicus is the sole member of the family Panuridae, AviList uses Bearded Reedling (in use since the 19th century) as the English vernacular, BOURC maintains Bearded Tit even though they are more closely related to larks. Should we change the name? #Ornithology #UKBirding 🪶

Should be required reading for folks in the biological recording community - @nbntrust.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social @nfbr.bsky.social. Lots of echoes here of similar experiences and issues over the years.

Seasonal positions (Apr-Sep) for Botanical and Entomology Field Surveyors available with @ukceh.bsky.social - see ceh.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/CEH_Ca...

Coming soon. As one of the people who've had a chance to read an early draft, I can whole-heartedly second this review by @markavery.bsky.social!

My Swarovski STS 65 HD scope, with 20-60 zoom is available, although lens caps missing. Comes with stay-on case (front lost its lower clip). Tripod available. Know any local young birders who may like it? - free of charge @landguardbo.bsky.social @landguardbirder.bsky.social @david-walsh.bsky.social

Nineth cider of the day on the #NYPH pub crawl in Norwich and 91 species under our belt. Some great plants - a luxurious Pseudofumaria lutea mistaken for a hanging basket a fav.. scaling the castle.. and some great pubs. Top effort #NorfolkFloraGroup #NYPH Same next January

Splendid day's botanising (hic)

Lots of beers here. Will the plant hunt manage to progress further...?

We found too many plants and had to skip one. Pub no.2 is the Golden Star and 73 plants

We've reached Pub no. 1 and 35 plants in flower. Currently neck and neck with Tim in Cardiff.....

2025 was perhaps my best year of botany, so I thought I'd post a few highlights from Scotland. A well-timed trip to Orkney in May produced Oysterplant (Mertensia maritima), Holy-grass (Hierochloe odorata) and Scottish Primrose (Primula scotica). @bsbibotany.bsky.social

One for my Thetford friends...

This looks a fun thing to do on Friday - think I'd better check the bus times to get home though if we're doing 6 pubs.

I am interested in working with an artist on a graphic novel on soil and/ or global environmental change. The lab would have money to fund this. Do you know of any graphic artists that would be interested?

Best of 2025:17. Grapholita delineana (Hemp Tortrix) at Shotesham, 24/07/2025 by Andy Musgrove & Mark Lawlor — new for Norfolk! #teammoth #norfolkmoths norfolkmoths.co.uk/micros.php?b...

The Landscape Partnership #EcologyVacancies We are looking for a graduate ecologist in Bedford and experienced ecologists in any of our locations, including London and Woodbridge (Suffolk), to start in the New Year - DM me if of interest.

URGENT Attention all macrophotographers! Does anyone have an image of the sexual form of Andricus quercuscalicis - ideally laying on an English oak bud!!!!

Is it safe to call this Callitula pyrrhogaster or are there any confusion species? I can't find a relevant key but it looks like other photos of this species and it's supposed to be distinctive. It's 1.5mm long and was found by suction in late July in grass at the edge of wet woodland in Norfolk.

Good to see our local MP speaking out on this. Thanks @bengoldsborough.bsky.social

A question for moth trapping people. I needed a new MV bulb, so bought a cheaper online. When it came out said metal halide in the box (L). I assumed I got the wrong type so I bought 2 MV bulbs from WatDon. They are exactly the same but the metal halide label is covered over with sharpie (R).. (1/2)

Great to see the paper by @ecology-digest.bsky.social and I on the new British woodlouse (Chaetophiloscia elongata) now available. Check it (and other great material) out at bmig.org.uk/view/resourc...

I'm currently updating and making corrections to the Ephydridae key prepared for the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social workshop. Please let me know if you've noticed any errors or anything that might need updating. Comments, DM or email to sjthomasbotanyATgmail.com please. #Diptera #entomology

According to www.naturespot.org/species/forg..., I'd be able to identify Sehirus morio on the basis of its distinctive male parameres. Can anyone point me towards a reference that shows these please? I've got a load of likely candidates from the Brecks @ajcann.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social

Yesterday, @britentsoc.bsky.social published the 4th edition of the popular Field Guide to the Smaller Moths of Great Britain and Ireland. Completely updated and free to download in 3 digital formats: PDF, spreadsheet, and an Android App! Further details at www.benhs.org.uk/publications... #TeamMoth

Another superb example of #biomimicry reinforcing the intrinsic significance of protecting all biodiversity including the newts, bats & invertebrates demonised as barriers to development by Rachel Reeves As this study demonstrates one day they may literally save your life. phys.org/news/2025-10...

If you happen to be located along the West coast of Britain, or in Ireland (anywhere with a Lobarion community), keep an eye open for the shiny green discs of Abrothallus welwitschii growing on the thallus of Sticta lichens. In the right light, the discs really shine out! Quite eye-catching really.