James Lowen Wildlife

Beyond birdwatching in August... my column on non-feathered fauna and flora for Bird Watching magazine. This month stars Sea Aster Bee and Common Lime Aphid, a fiercesome fly and a moth making waves.

Yearticking my old home county. Some gannet guano for the nasal passages. Didn’t get Minkes back in the 90s though, so one today was pleasing.

Remember to keep dogs on lead near breeding seabird colonies!

Tourist discovers ‘extinct’ jellyfish while rock-pooling in Outer Hebrides Thistle-shaped Depastrum cyathiforme was last seen in France in 1976, but has now been found on South Uist

Lovely story from the brilliant @britishwildlife.bsky.social magazine. This mag is endlessly fascinating – recommend if you're not a subscriber already. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The #climatecrisis means the UK is losing its avian mountaineers.

Very privileged to have received a complimentary copy of the fifth edition of 'Dragonflies of Britain and Ireland' and to have some photos published in it too. Published in the UK from the 2nd September 2025. Looks brilliant. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @smallshire.bsky.social

Sounds a lovely morning, Nic. And yes to buttoned snout!

Wow! It may be a good year for them? Quite a few recs from new gardens across Norfolk this year - and I at least have been checking LBBYUs routinely for a few years.

NEW BLOG: London calling - Langmaid's and lime. Mothing in south-east London. www.jameslowen.com/blog-27-jul-... #teammoth #MuchAdoAboutMothing

The lepidopteran highlight of the Norwich garden week: a female Hummingbird hawk-moth laying eggs. First time I have seen evidence of attempted breeding in the UK. #NorfolkMoths #teammoth #MuchAdoAboutMothing

how long are you in east anglia, richard?

Clocking off for the w/e: starting by thumbing through an advance copy of the wonderful debut by @bsbicountries.bsky.social (James Harding-Morris), ENDEMIC, published by @chiffchat.bsky.social, which celebrates Britain's unique fauna/flora & for which I was honoured to provide a back-cover quote.

ditto!

Last night’s lepihighlights in our Norwich garden: the summer’s third Marbled Clover (vs just one in the previous ten years), plus 5 Silver Y and 10 Diamond-backs. #teammoth #norfolkmoths #MuchAdoAboutMothing

Congratulations to Netenyahu in managing to unite the Express and the Guardian in outrage.

nice one, rob

Quite some dispersal evident in a hefty Norwich moth trap last night, inc the year’s second garden Marbled Clover (a species wandering widely and prolificly in 2025), Bulrush and Twin-spotted wainscots) #teammoth #norfolkmoths #MuchAdoAboutMothing

Delighted that the second edition of Pantanal Wildlife (my new travel and wildlife guide for @bradtguides.bsky.social ) won 'book of the month' in the recent issue of Bird Watching magazine. www.bradtguides.com/product/pant...

Jersey Tiger Moths sitting out the summer heat on a shady tree 🌳

Sensible.

glorious, that. most green of eyes.

cracking record!

spectacular find. any sign subsequently?

Campaigning against the potentially disastrous Planning & Infrastructure bill is working. The government is rattled. Keep up the pressure - we are nature’s only voice.

Quick nap in the holiday hammock?

Very good to be in the Northwest with the Natural England team to declare another National Nature Reserve - Risley, Holcroft & Chat Moss NNR. Home to the industrial revolution, the new NNR expands the green infrastructure needed for the ecological revolution that must get underway. t.co/6nXK9fcS5x

That is a badge of honour!

A splendid accident

proper glamrock

Hurray! Please let me know what they think of it, Nic!

The other highlight of this morning's moth trap in SE London was this stunning Lime Flame Chrysoclista linneella - the first I have caught in a moth trap, though I have seen them on lime trunks during the day. #teammoth #MuchAdoAboutMothing