The Gibster

Spring has officially arrived here on Skye. Freshly arrived migrant Highland Coo, resting up on the beach 😄

Aah, my beloved Epsom Common! Not sure when I last had Willow Tit there, I think they disappeared around the same time as Turtle Dove, though they clung on longer than Nightingale. Marsh Tits went too, but returned after a couple of years. I'm kinda glad I don't return. Too much has changed.

Yep, I'd agree with that :)

Beautiful, looking forward to this series!

The desmid Micrasterias jenneri, seemingly quite common

The testate amoeba Nebela collaris. This is the test (case) in which it lives, mostly made up from fragments of diatoms.

The testate amoeba Planocarina carinata. This genus exhibits a distinctively shaped test (case).

Xanthidium armatum, a spiky ball of fun!

Playing at the microscope whilst the rain comes down outside. These are from Sphagnum pools here on Skye

I see me! 😄

Scottish mountains and urban backstreets, probably my two favourite habitats to botanise (grotanise as some would call the latter)

That's where I parked up and walked 100ft to take a pic of the view. Came back to find a Kea perched on the driver's seat headrest... Always close the windows in Kea territory 😂

Galanthus x valentinei swarm found today, looming over carpets of nivalis, Seemingly only one plant of pure-looking plicatus on site. I guess one is all that's required though!

Fabulous post, thank you! 👍

Damn right! bsky.app/profile/brex...

Good birding, an open fire and beer. Can't beat it 😀

These are the mines of a micromoth, probably Ectoedemia heringiella. They look like last year's old mines, but they are winter active as larvae so look out for fresh tenanted mines too 🙂

Looks as though Raasay's volcano is getting ready to blow 😄

As though you don't already have a big enough PSL for your house 😂

I love watching these sort of things, I just wish I knew what they are! 😅

Ah, I've seen it there with you! Happy New Year buddy. Now get back in the garden and get that micro-site PSL started 😄

Yup, that's it alright 👍😊

Best of luck, it will definitely be an eye-opener. Remember to hang out a rotten banana from time to time for wasps and flies, headtorch safaris of a night, tree trunks and fencing panels are fabulous after dark, lay down a bit of roofing felt ot stone slab and check beneath regularly. MVL obvs!

Just to clarify, I realise that I sound a tad cynical in the above comment. I can only apologise and put this down to the fact that I am, in fact, rather cynical of various so-called reintroductions.

Yes, but stork has the letter O in it, as does the word London. Proof that they absolutely belong there, should proof ever be needed. Or questioned.

Let the community spirit begin harmonising with nature....

Also Beaver has an A in it, just like Dagenham does. I rest my case, m'lud.

Yes, it's a highly distinctive species. Often in Yew, I find.

They're both spiders, I'd say.

These are the plants I've seen flowering during Nov, all from the northern third of Skye. Wild Thyme, Common Ragwort, Daisy, Gorse, Red Campion, Groundsel, Hogweed, Common Knapweed, English Stonecrop, Escallonia, Herb-Robert, Nipplewort, Pink-purslane, Bell Heather & Wall Speedwell. 15spp, not bad!

That's truly remarkable Steve. I'm actually not far behind you now, seeing as we've had some very welcome sunshine this weekend. I think my November flowering plants total is... erm....six!! 🤣

Hillier Garden Centre is local. I've checked through their website, esp the Biosecurity part. The wording promises much, but in reality there's little likelihood of cicadas in roots being discovered.

Not that I'm saying this is where they came from. Other nurseries also import from overseas 😊

Presumably imported as nymphs amongst the roots of small trees?? Is there a large nursery or garden centre in Winchester? The cicadas I mean, not the Midwife Toad 😅

What a fabulous resource!!! Bookmarked, and bravo to you!

And that's a second one I've never even heard of. The streets of London never cease to amaze.

Looks like a couple of old Phyllonorycter platani leafmines on one of those fallen leaves 🍁