The Gibster

Saw one mantling a White-front on the North Kent Marshes many years back. I didn't actually see the kill itself, but then again I've never seen a Peregrine taking carrion.

Sitona (or sit on a) Wheater's bill

I see White-tailed Eagles with some regularity here on Skye, but I never see any Shetland Ponies. Proof, if ever proof were needed. of the eagle's murderous ravenous ways! Mind you, I never see any Polar Bears either....

I've seen Crematogaster scutellaris inside Inverness Botanic Garden hothouse, yours does appear to be that species.

Willow-leaved Pear fruits. The brown band is the fungus Venturia pyrina, aka Pear Scab. Venturia inaequalis causes much the same symptoms on apples.

Willow-leaved Pear fruits. The brown patch is the fungus Venturia pyrina, aka Pear Scab. Venturia inaequalis causes much the same symptoms on apples.

I did a bad thing. I twitched a plant that I 'needed' for my PSL. Willow-leaved Pear (species 7242) duly ticked in a hedge. Then I noticed the brown scuzz on a number of the fruits. This is Venturia pyrina aka Pear Scab and species 7243 for me. A far more satisfying lifer than a twitched tree!

Formica exsecta - note the heart-shaped head, a unique feature amongst British Formica species

Formica exsecta - note the deep notch in the petiole leaf, another unique feature amongst British Formica species

Formica exsecta - smaller and noticeably paler than the Formica lugubris that are so widespread in the area

Stopped at a wooded site near Carrbridge with the intent of finally finding Shining Guest Ant on a Formica lugubris nest. Ten nests checked, zero Shining Guest Ants seen. Yet again. But I did fid two nests of Formica exsecta, very rare beast indeed! Species 7245 for my PSL

Eye-catching bright orange patches on the upperside of Rowan leaflets

And the spectacular fruiting bodies of Gymnosporangium cornutum on the underside

Quit Skye for a cheeky overnighter onto the mainland. A random layby stop added the spectacular Gymnosporangium cornutum to my PSL (species 7244). Seen here infecting one Rowan sapling, situated amongst many seemingly untouched individuals.

Who says microfungi are boring (not me!)

Fabulous, this rekindles an urgent need to jump into my car and go see something far away. Blissful times before carbon footprints were a thing.

Nope, not with Chris on either occasion. I've pinged you an email.

Will do buddy.

Bit late to the party, but I've also seen this rust on the Isle of Wight and near St Mawes in Cornwall. Consider the line good 'n proper disrupted!

It was whilst holding a leafmine up to the window this morning (and failing to get any decent pics) that I thought, "I definitely need to get a better system for this mallarkey". Cheers for the nudge, buddy :)

Pop into your nearest B&Ms and grab yourself a +3.5 pair of reading glasses. You'll need to move your head back and forth to fine focus but they work really well for me when looking through a beating tray's worth of debris, or the underside of a log etc. Full width vision too. Cost less than £5

Oof, jealous!

Fabulous!!!

This is a must-read.

"..(Insects') bodies are riddled with holes, called spiracles, that carry oxygen directly into the tissue.
“They’re all surface area (says Wagner). Insects can’t hold water.” Even a brief drought lasting just a few days can wipe out millions of humidity-dependent insects.."

I've seen burrows like that here on Skye and wondered who the culprit might be. Green Tiger Beetle is up here, thanks very much for the heads up! 👌

Mega love that!!!

Purple Pitcherplant (Sarracenia purpurea) has been recorded on Westhay Moor since at least 2010, and was still there in 2023. Was that where you were, otherwise it'll be a different population that isn't on the BSBI database.

Hello again, btw 😀

Just look at it revelling away like a goodun! 😅

TBF I wasn't even searching, it just appeared. #fieldskillzinnit 😆

M.quad is the only hoverfly I've seen so far this year! 😄