I walked the line of HS2 from London to Birmingham. This is what I found: www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte... More widely, the scale of construction going on outside Birmingham was epic. All this striving for... no economic growth. The model isn't working anymore.

Just finished a wonderful long walk from Middlezoy to Langport, across the Somerset Levels. Stunning misty sunrise. 18 cranes on Aller Moor, bugling away. Kingfishers on the River Parrett. Lots of Lapwing around too.

Lots of birds on my @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social Steart. Dunlin flock grown to 5000. Hundreds of Wigeon on the River Parrett, whistling away. Watched a Peregrine hunting the Dunlin, incredible to watch it launch itself at the flock. @btobirds.bsky.social

1. Some good news at last. This week’s column is about the amazing thing a couple of us stumbled into three years ago, which we’ve now developed into a global research programme. It doesn’t change everything, of course, but it could help change quite a lot. + 🧵 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"But I have also watched in continuing dismay what we might call the Thatcher syndrome: apparently intelligent politicians failing yet and yet again to have the courage to implement the decisions necessary to tackle the ever more imminent danger of climate change."

The birds are back! Great @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social Steart Marshes. Dunlin, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Peregrine, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier. The mesmerising Dunlin murmuration is always a joy to see.

"Facts alone cannot save habitat." Wise words. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

One of the most amazing things about Corfu was the swifts. They screeched across the sky in the old town, screaming over the rooftops and through the squares. It was a raw and thrilling spectacle. Two different photos here, one black and white and the other colour. Which do you prefer?

Another amazing insect from Corfu. This glittering beetle is a Cerocoma species, maybe schreberi. I found it in the sand dunes at Korission Lagoon. It had wacky looking antennae, orange and twisted looking!

This is an excellent point. Well phrased. Compromise upon compromise. Resulting in a shifting baseline of environmental protection erosion. Sometimes we have to fight for what the rules say. If we don't we risk losing them.

We've lost most of our orchards and no longer eat the majority of our British apple varieties. It was therefore wonderful to visit @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele to see their amazing orchards. Rightly celebrating the incredible diversity of British apple varieties. We need to value them more.

Many people are afraid of spiders. However it would be hard to be scared of this one. This is Aelurillus v-insignitus, which I found on the dune heaths in Dorset last year. A lovely little jumping spider, very charming! Thanks to @tylanberry.bsky.social for the ID! @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Two more photos of the stunning Comma butterfly that I saw recently at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele. It was so fresh! I loved the lichen green spots on the underside of the wing. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 14 species. Box tree moth was the most numerous with 5 caught. Expected more due to warm temperatures. #teammoth

One of my favourite birds from Corfu was the Black-winged Stilt. Comically long red legs, looking gangly and un-elegant when in flight. Much more graceful when delicately wading through the water. Stunning birds to see up close.

Fantastic camouflage on this Comma butterfly. Seen at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele in its fabulous orchard at the weekend. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

This is insane. A conservation charity telling people to use plastic to create 'homes' for insects. Complete nonsense and environmentally damaging. And apparently supported by the Lottery! Crazy. I hate this type of 'bug hotel' stuff too. @froglife.bsky.social

One of the best things I did on the Isle of Skye was visit Claigan coral beach. Yes, a beach made of coral! I had never heard of such a thing. Every handful of 'sand' contained hundreds of unique pieces of maerl coral. It was wonderfully unique and intricate, very beautiful. A really special place.

Beauty and the beast. The contrast between the natural beauty of a Peacock butterfly and the harshness of man made barbed wire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Yesterday was one of my favourite days of the year. The day I pick the bullaces. We make gin from them every year. I always approach with trepidation as sometimes the crop is poor. This was a good harvest. My winter is safe now, I'll have the delicious gin to get me through.

I think this is a huge part of why our wildlife is struggling so much. The large scale habitat destruction took place a while ago. It is the eradication of these small scraps that now wipes away any refuge things have. They have nowhere to go. Almost everything is gone.

Another amazing insect that I saw in the sand dunes on Corfu was this large sand wasp. I think it is a Bembix species, perhaps bidentata. It rarely settled and it took me ages to get these shots. A fantastic looking thing!

Three of the migrant highlights from my Somerset garden moth trap. A darkly coloured Vestal, not a hint of pink on it! A smart White-point, this species is said to potentially be resident but also a known migrant. Small Mottled Willow, showing some intricacy. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 35 species. Little to get excited about but this nicely marked Catoptria falsella was good to see. Fewer migrants this time too, just: White-point, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth

Fewer moths than I was hoping for considering the hot conditions. 51 species in my Somerset garden. Orange Swift & Shark nice to see. Signs of migration with White Point, Vestal, Small Mottled Willow, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

One of the best places I visited in Corfu was the sand dunes at Korission lagoon. They were full of amazing insects. There were grasshoppers everywhere! Photos show: Acrotylus species (digging/banded), Omocestus rufipes (we call it Woodland), Eyprepocnemis plorans (Lamenting).

The long-anticipated first British records of Southern Small White have occurred this summer, with recent sightings from Cleveland and Suffolk:

Only 34 species in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. The 95 species night in June feels a long time ago now! Marbled Green, Straw Underwing, Buff Footman, Waved Umber the highlights. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Right to Roam isn't really about roaming. It's way more fundamental than that. It's a Right to Be. Be what? Be connected, be present, just existing on the land. It is one of the most basic things of all. Yet we're denied it. @righttoroam.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social

Fantastic news. Something Lepidopterists have been waiting for! Now to try and learn how to identify this species and split from other similar white species!

Completed the Mendip Way today. The highlight was Cranmore Tower and Great Gains Wood. The beech trees were amazing. Some of the biggest I've ever seen. A lovely varied route with lots of undulations!

Another enjoyable day on the Mendip Way. Cheddar to Shepton Mallet. Amazing views of the coast and Levels. Glastonbury Tor a prominent sight. Ebbor Gorge was lovely. Bloody-nosed Beetle above Wells. Nice to walk around the Bishops Palace. Final day tomorrow.

I'm walking the Mendip Way over the next few days. Today I went from Weston-super-Mare to Cheddar. Some fabulous views of the coastline and surrounding lowlands. Highlight was finally going up Crook Peak. Heading to Shepton Mallet tomorrow.

Fantastic visit to Lydford Gorge @nationaltrust.org.uk today. The devil's cauldron and waterfall were both truly spectacular. A really special place.

The butterfly species I saw most when I was in Corfu a month ago was Cleopatra. It's a stunning species, a jazzed up version of our Brimstone, with a bright orange patch on the upper side of its forewing. However they almost never settled for a photo! This was all I got! @butterflycorfu.bsky.social

Signs of moth migration in my inland Somerset garden. Euchromius ocellea the highlight. Also Small Mottled Willow, Diamond-back and Rush Veneer. Some resident goodies too, including Mocha, Rosy Footman and Coronet. #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Wonderful walk around one of my favourite places; the wooded combes around Holford on the Quantocks. Egg laying Purple Hairstreak, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Treecreeper. And a tree that looks like a stag!

66 species in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. The highlight was this stunningly fresh Tissue. It had a greenish tinge to its wings. I also love the intricate scalloped edge to the hindwing. A well marked Sitochroa palealis was also lovely to see. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social

One of my favourite birds that I saw in Corfu was the Red-rumped Swallow. One would perch on an aerial outside the hotel and preen itself every morning. I loved the mix of electric blue wings, orange head and cream chest. A beautiful and elegant looking bird.

I got another big catch of 83 species on the night of the 30th June in my Somerset garden. 27 were different to the 25th, meaning a whopping 122 species from the 2 nights. The gorgeous Lappet the highlight, but Dot Moth and Black Arches also stood out. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Ecstatic to find this absolute stunner sitting on the outside of my Somerset garden moth trap. A Lappet! Felt sorry for all the other moths that followed as none could live up to this one. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Record 95 moth species in my Somerset garden on Wednesday night (beating the previous record of 89 set in 2019). Loved seeing the huge vibrant female Drinker! Anarsia innoxiella was a nice new micro for me and there aren't many county records. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #teammoth

Wow what a moth trap! On 86 species, with quite a few micros to identify. I will beat my previous highest count of 89 species set in 2019. There were 37 species outside the trap! Moth trapping is exhilarating when it's like this. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Moth trap going on tonight. Last time I trapped in my Somerset garden (a few weeks ago) I got a Bordered Straw, which was a new species for me. Hoping for similar luck tomorrow morning when I empty the trap! #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

My favourite moth is the Elephant Hawk-moth. A riot of pink and olive green. I recently had 14 in my Somerset garden moth trap. So many fabulous details to marvel at. When I first saw one I could not believe it was real. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Lovely to see the Orchard Ermine moths emerging on my parents garden apple tree. I've seen lots of Ermine moth webs this year. I recently saw huge drooping Willow Ermine ones on weeping willow trees in Stratford-upon-Avon. Lending the tree an eerie beauty! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Lovely to see quite a few House Martin chicks at @nationaltrust.org.uk Charlecote Park. No doubt feeding on the insect rich grassland we walked through. Nice to see some Marbled White butterflies too. 😁

One of the things I miss the most about Corfu are the swifts. There were thousands screaming over the old town. Everywhere feels eerily silent in England. Watching them made me finally get why people love them so much. A raw and exciting spectacle to see. @hannahbournetaylor.bsky.social

Leaving Corfu in a few hours. Surely it has a claim to having the most picturesque airport in the world?! Stunning sea and lagoon right by the runway. I've loved it here. Will share more photos of scenery and wildlife when I'm back. 😁

I'm in Corfu on holiday. It's amazing. I loved the old town. Hundreds of Swifts screaming and chattering overhead, including Alpine Swift. Starred Agama lizards on the walls looking out to sea.