Ron Lawie

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Sadly found this dead Mole however look at those front feet. Large and powerful particularly compared the the rear set. @britishnatureguide.bsky.social @foragingecology.bsky.social

Well done David, the difficulty is significant for many, great your raising the profile and understanding. Happy birding.

Speckled Wood on my cycling cap.

Pararge aegeria

What I think is a Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria) on my cycling cap near Steenwijk Netherlands. ?

Thank you, I was sure you would likely know. Once home I will check my book. I was hopeful the red was a common darter but may have been a variation.
The Emerald was stunning. Many thanks.

Can someone please advise ID if these damsel fly. Observed today at Steenwijk Netherlands. Thank you. @maryvanderes.bsky.social ?

It was a pleasure and is not unusual disturbance on that stretch of coast which maintains consistency. I do however often wonder how good it would be without 🤞 And when it is, it is usually appalling weather 🤷‍♂️

Sandwich terns and gulls lift as walkers approach. WeBS count.

Circa 300 Sandwich tern on yesterdays WeBS count. Walkers are a constant disturbance causing the birds to move around. @webs-gsmp.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social

We set up an experimental ‘lure’ producing a pheromone hoping to attract Six Spot Burnet moth in a grassland habitat hosting a few Ragwort (Senecio Jacobaea) plants. Pleased that within ten minutes it had two. 😃
@savebutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social
@bsbiscotland.bsky.social

😂🤣🤣 you just have to love autocorrect 🙄

Sneezewort

Tormentil

Bog cotton

Bog Asphodel

Tormentil (Potentilla fruticosa) and Sneezewort (Achilles ptarmigan) from a grassland habitat and Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) and Bog Cotton (Eriophorum angustifolium) from an upland habitat.
@bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

A worn adult Northern Brown Argus

Searching for the food plant Rockrose

Three eggs on one leaf contrary to most guide books. The leaves are approx 10-15mm long and the eggs approx 1 mm diameter.

Searching for Northern Brown Argus eggs on their food plant Rockrose with reasonable success in east Perthshire.
A good day for several species, Meadow Brown, Common Blue, Grayling, Small Heath, Red Admiral, Ringlet and several damselflies.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

Interesting variation of habitat

Same trip around 150 Red Deer stags and Mountain Hare also

A few pics from my mountain foray yesterday

St John’s Wort

Nice clump of St John’s Wort as Ringlet flutter in the adjacent grasses on this fine morning.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Red-tail bumblebee (female)

Healthy looking Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) spotted in its search for nectar.

Nice very illusive birds, heard more often than seen.

Notice the bright tail-end membrane. Piezodorus lituratus

Gorse Shieldbug

Gorse Shieldbug (Piezodorus lituratus) located on a coastal path yesterday.
Interestingly adults change colour later in the season.

@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Starry saxifrage

Upland plants: Starry saxifrage from Glen doll.

Starry saxifrage

Upland plants: Starry saxifrage from Glen doll.

Female Ptarmigan incubating. RSPB Montane Survey.

Rewards for effort. Female Ptarmigan incubating in a boulderfield. RSPB Montane Survey.
@rspbscotland.bsky.social
@bbs-birds.bsky.social
@btoscotland.bsky.social

Thyme (Creeping I think ? )

Wood Cranesbill

Alpine Bistort

Bell heather and Red tail bumblebee

A few plants from East Cairngorms. Thyme, Cranesbill and Bistort. Several Red tailed Bumblebees around on the Bell heather. @bsbiscotland.bsky.social

Small copper and a Speckled Wood from Morton Loch today. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Sad to hear and hopefully they can recover next year.
Here in East Scotland our Peregrine numbers crashed last year due mainly to HOAI in diet with virtually zero nesting, it’s encouraging that we have around fifteen successful nests this year averaging broods of three pulli.
Fingers crossed for u

Dryads saddle on a Horse chestnut tree. Grown in the space of three days.
@bsbiscotland.bsky.social

Roseroot in bloom from Caenlochan visit yesterday @bsbibotany.bsky.social @naturescot.bsky.social

Life doesn’t get much better, bird surveying in tranquility @bbs-birds.bsky.social @btoscotland.bsky.social

Whitethroat habitat.

Roe deer not yet noticed me !

A priceless view filled with birdsong 😃

First of the second visits undertaken on an arable coastal square for @btoscotland.bsky.social @bbs-birds.bsky.social great to see several whitethroat and numerous Skylark together with Dunnock, Linnet, corn bunting and several others.