Festive Chocolate Baileys Pinecones went down a treat with the squad today!

Nice find this week on a new site. Annual knawel. On the disturbed edges of a sandy track which is where I mainly find this beauty in Norfolk!

It has been a great garden year this year and I have been so lucky to be able to enjoy it. Still the gift that keeps on giving! And the #Spiders are loving it too!

Unloaded a trap in a new location today. Adjacent to scrubby grassland. Do these look good for Flounced Chestnut and a Beaded Chestnut? Neither of which I have seen before! Oh & if anyone can ID my bonus 3rd moth all thoughts welcome! 🙂 @norfolkmoths.bsky.social

Today was mainly about hacking but you can't beat a bit of accidental spidering. Especially when it is a bogey species that you have been longing to see! At last a Nigma walckenaeri......(I hope!) #Sunday #Spider @britishspiders.bsky.social

An excellent day today focussed on Reptiles and Amphibians. Great bunch of folk from a range of organisations and backgrounds sharing learning, science, sitings and ENTHUSIASM. Really uplifting day in the world of conservation. Plus I got to see some great conservation pals as well!

Weather charts suggested migrant species may be on the cards. Seems they were not wrong. Clancy's Rustic, a new species for me in the trap this morning. @norfolkbutterflies.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social

If #spiders were supermodels..........perfecting that middle distance look A/W 2025 ...Attulus Saltator..... @britishspiders.bsky.social

Whether or not it had a cunning plan was unclear.

Northumberland you have been amazing. As were my team mates & all the #mightyhikers for @macmillancancer and I what a finish too. Rain, sun, blisters, laughter and a dip in the North sea to ease the muscles. 27 miles in just over 8 hours. www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

A collage of reasons why no housework was done this evening. I subscribe to doing what brings you joy in life. In my case that is nature, horse riding, snorkelling or walking. Today was an underwater day, not a day for dusting. #ChalkReef #Snorkelling #NorthNorfolk

Today's award for the shyest spider.....Cyclosa conica. A fabulously conspicuous abdomen on a spider that is pretending you cannot see it. Swept from some newly created chalk grassland habitat which was alive with invertebrates and most of them #Spiders ❤️ @britishspiders.bsky.social

21.2miles. 28 degree heat. 5hrs 33 minutes. ALSO discovered (both impressively & alarmingly) I have walked the soles of my trainers so thin I now have a blister on the sole of my foot! Sponsor the blister here 👉 www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

My 50p dead stick from a supermarket has done good! Actual amount of apples present is about double this. Not 100% sure of variety.....something half way in between a cooker and an eater it seems. Recipe suggestions welcomed...............

I wasn't expecting this one over the weekend in the #NewForest. Momentarily questioning my choices when I enthusiastically shouted out 'Praying Mantis' in the company of some great natural historians! Fortunately, it transpires I was right!! Mantis religiosa I believe. #Surprise #Naturalhistory

There is nothing I love more than spending time in nature with people who love nature. Taking joy in the simple beauty of life , like this lovely Common Blue butterfly.

When I first started working in conservation the odds of finding a Silver-washed Fritillary in Norfolk were next to nothing. 22 years later and most wooded sites and even some urban Norwich gardens are recording these.

My friend returned for my second coffee but I was more prepared. Now you can all enjoy the magic of the hummingbird hawkmoth. @norfolknats.bsky.social @norfolkmoths.bsky.social

Coffee in one hand, phone in the other = awful photo. Being visited by one of these beauties is always a privilege I think and well worth a post on socials ( in my book anyway). @norfolkmoths.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social

Wasn't sure how successful I was going to be with my spider mission today after all the lightening & rain. As it happens I need not have worried. I went to seek the V fronted Jumping spider Aelurillus v-insignitus and........ @tylanberry.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social

Late for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social but a lovely reminder of a fab weekend. #peafamily Wild Liquorice! From the fantastic Ranscombe Farm

Late for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social but a lovely reminder of a fab weekend. #peafamily Wild Liquorice! From the fantastic Ranscombe Farm

Found under a stone on extremely chalky Downland. Wondering if there is enough here for an ID of Drassyllus praeficus? @britishspiders.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social

#Friday find. This is my pair of attentive and proud goldfinches who are looking after 4 fledglings in the undergrowth. I had suspected a nest for a while but was confirmed today. #Wildlife #Gardening #Birds

I just love it when I finally bump into not just one example but 2 species I have wanted to see for a long time. Green Socks Peacock AND Copper Peacock Beetle with its Blue feet! Elaphrus riparius & cupreus!!

So exhausted. I just got in the bath still wearing my headband and sunglasses 😎. Today's 15mile training walk. Beautiful #farmland, #woodland and #meadows. 4mph average pace. All this after an intense hours lesson on a beautiful young horse. www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

Amazing views of this lovely Zebra Spider today with moth prey. @britishspiders.bsky.social

This certainly made my day. I haven't had a hawkmoth to the trap for 5 years. Such a disappointment. Then, this morning behold! What a beauty. A lack of large moths no longer the. Elephant in the room. 🤣😬

One of my favourite views in the world. Where my passion for all things #Farmwildlife and #arableplants #Formerlyknownasweeds began. ❤️❤️

Enjoying a flick through my South African Adventure. #Spider edition. I set out to find a Common Kite Spider and low and behold I did. Together with what I think is a Green Lynx Spider, a House Jumper and a Gabon Tree Orb Weaver.

#Saturdayspider. A lovely Wolf Spider with amazing markings. @britishspiders.bsky.social

Not a contender for photo of the year but enough to confirm my ID I hope. Nomada leucophthalma Early Nomad Bee- based on Bees of Norfolk and a bit of Flickr. Happy to be corrected though. @norfolknats.bsky.social

Not a contender for photo of the year but enough to confirm my ID I hope. Nomada leucophthalma Early Nomad Bee- based on Bees of Norfolk and a bit of a flick through flikr....happy to be corrected though @andymus.bsky.social @norfolknats.bsky.social

Aside from #Conservation #Riding connects me to the #Countryside. Skylarks, Yellowhammers, drifts of Shepherd's Needle. Turtle Doves and Nightingale singing on the heath. Enjoyed from horseback & the quiet trust of a half tonne herbivore that is earned not demanded. Priceless.

Selective grazers hard at work on my lawn diversification project. Vervain apparently not their thing but grass and Daisies on the other [email protected]

Another new for Norfolk for me. Corn Parsley. Likely at it's northerly limits in our neck of the woods so nice to see a sudden appearance from a seed bank of this fab little umbellifer. Found by super keen local farmers who certainly know the meaning of a fantastic cultivated margin!

Raised £35 from bagging up poo in intense heat for #Macmillan over the past month! Unfortunately some bags did a Mick Dundee & went walkabouts with no donation. So to help anyone out who 'didn't have cash' & 'was going to pop back later' link 👇 👌☺️ www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

A pleasingly domestic day. Obviously no dust, clutter or laundry has been harmed. Enjoying a lovely day in the garden watching goldfinches build a nest, #bees & #spiders galore, good book & some artistic licence with my #NoMowMay sign. Excited to see the diverse state of my formerly boring lawn!

A surprise for #Saturday . Tower Mustard! What a beautiful thing! @loveplants.bsky.social

Not technically a Cabbage family, indeed a Carrot, but I think in the spirit of things it still counts for #WildflowerHour A lovely, surprise find of a load of Shepherd's Needle at sunset. Plus bonus arable plants #formerlyknownasweeds what's not to like!

My garden is my sanctuary. A place to relax, read and think. Lots of all of that this weekend. #Gardening #Goodforthesoul

#Fridayfind Small but very interesting. I think this is a member of the Linyphiidae- money spiders. Possibly Walkenaeria antica? Out of my depth a bit but making a start looking at these so all corrections welcome. @britishspiders.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @andydouglas1967.bsky.social

What a difference a week or two makes. The latest garden 🌈

Sometimes it is nice to have a different perspective on things! #Wildlife @norfolkmoths.bsky.social #mothsmatter

Our brisk 4miler turned into a brisk 9 miler in 2 hours and 40 mins! (looked shorter on the map)😂 Back to base for a refuel and refill of more 'Muck for Macmillian'. Low road Bramfield, opposite the butchers. Get it before it's gone!! www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

Nice day out in the field today. Early in the season for too much but it's all there!

@tylanberry.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social My microscope is not a very high magnification and so can anyone help me confirm please. 1) are these ventral spines 2) how many pairs are there?

Morning Bluesky on another lovely spring day. Could this be a contender for a genuine Oxlip? No nectar guides, wide pale yellow 1 sided flowers, wrinkly grey green leaves......Discuss. In woodland on chalky clay. @jo-the-botanist.bsky.social @bramblebotanist.bsky.social @ians4ad.bsky.social

1.45 million tonnes of horse poo bagged up. (Maybe a little less but my legs were tired after 9miles & I was hot!) Plenty available opposite butchers in Bramfield. Or, if you have enough crap in your life already you can just sponsor me!!👇👇👇 www.justgiving.com/page/emily-s...

First day back in the field and come across this beauty ....I think a Trochosa and probably terricola on account of the woodland habitat. Nice to be back out there, making a difference. @britishspiders.bsky.social