Mark Nowers

Thanks for considering Sean.

The boardwalk and fencing at the Flatford Wildlife garden is made from Sweet Chestnut coppiced in Stour Wood a few miles down the road. Lovely wood to work with.

@mothiduk.bsky.social Sean, any thoughts on this please, from Loch Lomond. Pseudococcyx turionella doesn't feel right, but it's the closest I can get.

Goat moth (top) and Leopard moth, came to light on 30 June 2025 in Stutton, Suffolk. Photo: Mark Nowers

Goat v. Leopard #moths

Peach Blossom

Bright Wave.

Shaded Fan-foot

Red-necked Footman

Top quality #moths last night.

Peach Blossom the looker, but outdone on the rarity-scale by Bright Wave (netted at dusk by Sam Chamberlin), Shaded Fan-foot and Red-necked Footman.

Phwoar!

Forester moth in flower-rich Essex grassland. Rediscovered June 2025 in the county: last recorded in 1974. Photo Mark Nowers.

Last week, the Forester was rediscovered in #Essex. First time since 1974. Keep an eye in flower-rich grassland with Sorrel/Sheep's Sorrel (caterpillar foodplant). Mesmerising emerald green in flight and they do love to perch up! #moths

Will be interesting to see if at fledging, one cold egg remains.

SCARLET TIGER

Still rare in #Suffolk. Somehow this one snuck in to the shed next to where the trap was running last night. #Moths

YouTube video by RAZOR Science Show Bringing 'ghost' and 'zombie' ponds back from the dead

POND GHOSTS & ZOMBIES. A film on our #pond #restoration #Ghostponds work in @uclgeography.bsky.social by RAZOR Science featuring Norfolk Ponds Project, Helen Greaves, myself & many. Pond restoration achieves nature recovery so quickly: youtu.be/SYkbDdaUMBY?...

That's a good one Clare. Tends to be on lighter soils, but may be expanding.

Nest-recording taster day with Lee & Cheryl @btoengland.bsky.social y'day. Finding a Reed Bunting nest brought elation & amazement all-round. Attendees inspired to take new skills forward. Why are there not more naturalists/ecologists doing this?

If anyone tries to convince you that farmers are biodiversity bad guys.. This picture was sent to me today from a really pleased senior member of that community, amazed at the quantity of mining bees in his field edges this year, after we started having a proper look last year.

Natural colonisation of woodland/shrubland at 4, 10 & 29 yrs. Same spot, looking towards ancient woodland seed source 90 m away at Monks Wood Chronosequence.
Still in dynamic change, dense hawthorn & blackthorn thickets are nursery for emerging oaks. Teeming with warblers, soil carbon increasing.

Nice review in today’s Observer

“Looks beyond the usual cliches of country life: An excellent second book, acutely observed, and often very funny”

You can pre-order it here: harpercollins.co.uk/products/unc...

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Common Cranes

Our clients enjoyed seeing thousands of COMMON CRANES up close and personal during our tour to Sweden. Such photogenic birds! #wildlife #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birds #Sweden #nature

No one more deserving Megan. Bravo!

Fancy a free Dawn Chorus walk this Saturday? I'm leading one at Wrabness at 5am. Might see you there?

Oh yes. Non-standard Twin-spotted Quaker from yesterday.

Slow out the blocks, but here's the first two Lapwing of the season for the @btobirds.bsky.social #NestRecordScheme

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.

PhD opportunity with me (RSPB) at Sheffield Hallam combining ecology (building-nesting birds esp. Swift) + building design & planning (Net Zero goals & retrofit). We need a strong student interested in both! Is that you? url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/cNyjCR636C... Please repost.

Great day at mid-Essex survey area. Highlights, a surprise ♀️Goshawk twice hunting along main wood ride briefly buzzing local Buzzards. Marsh Tit, Brambling and 6 Woodcock also. Nearby, my 2nd ever Otter was also surprise, showing twice at 10 ft range. 6 Snipe….⬇️ 1/2

Ringers: what's the bill length of a Starling please?

Good example of why feeding stations on reserves with Willow Tits are a Bad Idea: Willow Tit, Jay & Sparrowhawk attracted to same area by people providing food.

Unfortunately for the Willow Tit, he's the food.

A Willow Tit lost in March/April means the breeding territory fails for the whole year.

Nemapogon clematella (Black-barred Fungus Moth) larval silken tubes on Hazel. It's the older (uncoppiced) Hazel trees with standing dead stems that support the Hypoxylon fungus - which in turn support the moths! At least, that's where I'm finding them. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter

Would recommend Birdsong on BBC4 now.

Strong recommend: the BTO News members' magazine really is a top notch read. It's the best wildlife society magazine I've seen; very good production, and really good, in-depth articles. BTO are really good at publications and comms (LifeCycle is also a very good magazine, for ringers). #ukbirding

Their generally quiet attire.

Twin-spotted