Ed Bennett.bsky.social

A great read!

That’s a Whitethroat

Amazing record!

Blue-winged Grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens) at Folkestone today.
Proximity of the Channel Tunnel suggests train-assisted.

Looks epic! Will have to go there!

Yes, I told them I won’t be getting the insurance and therefore won’t do the survey. They gave me permission and the license in the following email.

Thank you

Hi Darren, what’s a good modern book on Dinosaurs please? More for reading than looking at pictures.

Yes, both correct

Wow!

Great work! English Nature described the ground flora of Wistman's Wood in 1964 as 'characterised by areas of Bilberry, Creeping Soft Grass, Great Woodrush and Bramble.' Would be good if they let those species re-establish too. The majority of the understory is grazed out these days.

I would be really interested in your decisions. Presumably they could be a case for accepting some European species but managing ones from other continents.

Looks fantastic. Are their any non-native plants colonising it? If they did would the plan be to intervene and remove them or just monitor to see what happens?

Great weather for seeing reptiles at the moment, male (left) and female Viviparous Lizards (Zootoca vivipara) basking in my local woods, Southeast Hampshire. #reptiles #britishreptiles @arc-trust.bsky.social

I don’t think Holm Oak will need assistance, it’s growing wild all over parts of Hampshire. I’ve seen it growing wild in Somerset and the Chilterns too. It’s established and here to stay.

I’m in south Hampshire and the woodlands are changing here already. Holm Oak, Turkey Oak, Bay trees and other Mediterranean species are radically spreading.

Elder is prob the very best cavity-bearing shrub, far better than hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn (very poor). Important nesting shrub for Marsh Tits & Willow Tits, but only if left to develop old trunks and cavities, not cut. Like Hazel, they self-coppice without management, with new growth from base.

Northern Pool Frog (Pelophylax lessonae), photographed at a reintroduction site in Norfolk (while visiting with Norfolk Wildlife Trust Staff)

Iberian Water Frog (Pelophylax perezi) in Extremadura, Spain

Huge White-lipped Tree Frog (Nyctimystes infrafrenatus) that jumped on to me during a night walk in far north Queensland, Australia

European Common Frog (Rana temporaria) eating a slug, the gardener's friend!

Happy World Frog Day! Frogs are an important part of the complex web of life and a friend to the gardener (see last photo). #worldfrogday #youneedkermitmorethanheneedsyou

Male Common Frog numbers increased to 19 in our pond, just when I thought they would be lonely until next year, two clumps of frogspawn has appeared! @arc-trust.bsky.social #frogspawn

I don’t like controlled burns. I helped the National Trust carry some out in 2019, the next day I was disgusted by the amount of dead reptiles, charred caterpillars & spiders, a burnt wood ants nest, dead shrews & voles on the burn site. It’s awful for wildlife, yet they will argue it the other way.

Beaver releases into wild to be allowed in England for first time in centuries Exclusive: Government to grant nature groups a licence for release of rodent species after earlier setbacks The release of beavers into English waterways is to be allowed for the first time in centuries, the Guardian can reveal. The environment…

Beaver releases into wild to be allowed in England for first time in centuries

You could ringbark the bigger ones with a hammer and chisel.

Quite old, old grows about 20cm a year, probably less on a nutrient poor heath I would think.

Sounds like a brilliant project Ian.

Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara

Brilliant day in the New Forest, highlights were several Goshawks, Dartford Warbler, Woodlark, Hawfinch, Firecrests, Marsh Tit, 6 Crossbills, 3 Merlin, ringtail Hen Harrier, Red Admiral and my first Common Lizard of the year.

Great work. I’ve been trying to grow Greater Tussock Sedge, have produced a few but not much luck with seed germination.

What species are they?

Tawny Frogmouths

Tawny Frogmouths

Tawny Frogmouth family

Even more impressive were these Tawny Frogmouths, two adults and two chicks. Massive, chunky beaks! #AustralianWildlife #frogmouths

Blue Triangle Butterfly

Crested Pigeon

Female Galah

Tiny Eastern Sedge Frog

A visit to Oxley Creek Common in the west of Brisbane, provided plenty of interest... a flock of Galahs feeding on dandelions seeds was fantastic. #AustralianWildlife

@wildnewforestgt.bsky.social