Ed O’Connor

Some habitat shots from the New Forest last weekend, including the best #anthills I’ve ever laid eyes on

Heath Lobelia (Lobelia urens) flowering in Devon this morning. What a stunning thing!

The Greenweed in your pic is the prostrate form of Dyer’s Greenweed (Genista tinctoria subsp. littoralis)

It’s one of the Squills. Autumn Squill would be my guess but not sure. Bit too late for Land Quillwort now especially with the dry spring, although I have seen it in June before.

The incredibly tiny and very rare Small Hare’s-ear (Bupleurum baldense) in thinly-vegetated coastal grassland on Berry Head. It is now found at only two locations in the UK

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #botany

The crinkly flowers of White Rock-rose (Helianthemum apenninum) in coastal limestone grassland at Berry Head, South Devon

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #botany

Small Restharrow (Ononis reclinata) in coastal limestone grassland on Berry Head, South Devon

A very rare pea for @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #PeaFamily - Small Restharrow (Ononis reclinata), with its sticky glandular hairs. Berry Head, South Devon

@bsbibotany.bsky.social

Pigmy Rush (Juncus pygmaeus) starting to appear in the dried up temporary pools on the Lizard peninsula yesterday.

I’ve had worse starts to a mornings birding. Hoopoe at Kynance Farm. Red-veined Darters and Prostrate Broom on the cliffs at Vellan Head #cornwallbirding

That’d be the place to get one, just need some slightly stronger southeasterlies!

Just sat down for some lunch when this female Red-footed Falcon appeared at Kynance Cove. Also Hobby, Whinchat and 3 Wheatear #cornwallbirding

Annual rich turf on an ant hill. Other species present include: Linum radiola, Moenchia erecta, Trifolium striatum, dubium, campestre, ornithopodioides, Ornithopus perpusillus, Lysimachia arvensis, Aira caryophyllea & Riccia sp. probably bifurca.

Twin-headed Clover (Trifolium bocconei)

Spot the rarities! Twin-headed Clover and Dwarf Rush present in this photo

Inspired by the #anthills movement @waxcapscooch.bsky.social. I found this amazing ant hill at Kynance, Cornwall a couple of years back with three national rarities growing on it (Twin-headed Clover, Dwarf Rush and Land Quillwort) amongst a community of annuals and other threatened/scarce taxa.

A couple of pics from our trip up to Gloucestershire yesterday. #pasque

Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria)

Temperate rainforest in the Gwendraeth Valley, Lizard

A huge Tree Lungwort lichen (Lobaria pulmonaria) in wet and wonderful temperate rainforest in Cornwall

@britishlichensociety.org.uk

Hoopoe

Whinchat

Prostrate Juniper (Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica)

Pale Dog-Violet (Viola lactea)

Kynance this morning. Nice to finally get in on the Hoopoe action, although a bit flighty after being chased by a Sparrowhawk. Also two Whinchats, five Grasshopper Warblers, three Cuckoos, 17 Wheatears in the area as well. #cornwallbirds

*21 plus a dark-bellied

22 Pale-bellied Brents and 2 Med Gulls on the exe off exminster marshes #devonbirds

Stunning traditional cherry orchard at Ludwell Valley Park in Exeter. So many great features for wildlife. Best thing was an Elder growing out of one of the Cherry trees

#devonbirds

My first Whitethroat of the year along the cliffs near Budleigh Salterton this morning. Quite a number of Chiffs and Willow Warblers in the patches of alexanders on the clifftop as well.

I think all of it is SSSI. You can see the details here : designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.a...

Wood Anemone

Early Dog-violet

Moschatel

Some of the woodland flora at Stoke Woods SSSI near Exeter this afternoon. Lost count of the number of ancient woodland indicator species

Sand Crocus dotting the turf at Dawlish Warren this afternoon. Stunning little things.

Ah right, no it’s just my local patch

Hi Bernie, back at home now. Moved to Exeter in Jan 👍

8 Little Ringed Plovers, White Wagtail, c.70 Sand Martins on exminster marshes. 2 spoonbills on the Exe viewed from Powderham #devonbirds

Spotted Cat’s-ear, Hypochaeris maculata rosettes starting to emerge from the turf at Kynance yesterday

Two little ringed plovers at Exminster marshes #devonbirds

Hi James, yes that was me, good to meet you. Ah that’s interesting, it did cross my mind.. I’ll keep an eye out in the local area

I don’t think I’d ever get tired of watching our garden Black Redstart, such a fantastic bird. Now been visiting us for a week. #devonbirds