ChrisGibsonWildlife

And Reeves' disgusting, dismissive comments today about 'microscopic' snails 'holding up' development just underline why. They may be small but they are rare, and indicative of high water quality. And for holding development that would not be needed if second/third/nth homes were forbidden.

Precious moment in the fleeting Wivenhoe sun this morning of a pair of German Wasps snatching an intimate moment... Really brought home the size difference. This is peak wasp mating time, with the male destined to die soon; the newly mated queens being the only ones to overwinter #criticalmoment

YouTube video by Biological Recording Company Syrph-ing the Continents: Hoverflies, Our Unsung Agricultural Heroes

Attended an online talk yesterday from Samm (University of Guelph) Syprh’ing the Continents: Hoverflies, Our Unsung Agricultural Heroes video link below. I find it fascinating that such tiny insects migrate just as birds & butterflies do and the talked inspired me to find out even more. #syrphidae.

Jenrick could have visited Handsworth to listen to residents – he chose to pass through and make a judgement based on the colour of their skin. Instead of getting to know our nation of neighbours, he chose racism.

The Tories, Reform and Labour want to divide us.

The Greens say enough is enough.

Rather than just supporting the aims of a political party (mostly Labour until now), after 65 years I just joined the Green Party. For my granddaughter, for my sanity, and for all life on the plant.

Common Banded Hoverfly on a Ivy bubil day after Storm Amy

Hoverflies return to Ivy bush after storm Amy. Common Banded (Syrphus ribesii) and Drone fly (Eristalis tenax) #hoverflies #syrphidae but mainly its full of wasps. The wall facing the sun is covered in Asian Lady Beetles (Harmonia axyridis) all of different varieties.

Won't be impacted? Ever been to hospital?....

Blustery day, isn't it? Here's the National Grid: Live generation data. Wind and solar are generating 74.2% of our electricity. Gas is generating 13.1%. And yet our household electricity prices are pegged to... the volatile price of gas. Which is the basis on which the right attacks... renewables.

That is a super fly obviously a mover north due to climate change. The patterns on the wings are stunning. Thanks for sharing.

@hoverflyspotter.bsky.social good to see you over here mate. To encourage you, here's my best fly ever (not a hover, sorry!) I photographed yesterday in Beth Chatto Gardens: Ectophasia crassipennis, a UK first for me!

Naturalists for Palestine Naturalists for Palestine is a call from individuals and organisations in the UK nature sector to stand for an end to the genocide in Gaza, and to the suffering and oppression of the people of Palesti...

We are all implicated in this UK-backed genocide & ecocide, against our wishes.

We must all stand up for the better world we wish to enjoy and share.

#N4P #Naturalists4Palestine

🧵

Naturalists for Palestine Naturalists for Palestine is a call from individuals and organisations in the UK nature sector to stand for an end to the genocide in Gaza, and to the suffering and oppression of the people of Palesti...

Climate change is driving biodiversity loss here where we live, and globally. The military carbon footprint of Israel’s genocide is greater than the sum total of dozens of countries put together.

We continue to call for peace, justice & equal human rights for everyone.

🙏🕊️

Blog of my two short visits to Beth Chatto Gardens over the past couple of days
www.chrisgibsonwildlife.co.uk/the-wild-sid...

Autumnal bliss!
#NatureWriting

I love how each season changes how I feel about almost everything. Autumn brings melancholy, which used to throw me, before I realised it's not a gateway to sadness.

How to figure out if a compost brand is good or not and the brands of peat free compost I use | Jack Wallington | Nature & Gardens Around the world the vast majority of plants on earth grow in a mix of mineral soil and composted organic matter - only those in peatland grow in peat. Over the last ten years I have grown almost ever...

If you're still using peat based compost, it really is time to stop. It's dug straight out of precious natural habitat and releases tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere (literally) in the process. Here's a guide, there are loads of good brands out there www.jackwallington.com/how-to-figur...

Tories pledge to scrap landmark climate legislation Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says her party would axe legally binding targets to cut emissions.

Stupid decision - most people want to stop climate damage as soon as possible www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Yep, that's Stomorhina. The one we found at BC eight years ago was about the fourth for Essex. So this year's influx is unprecedented, and it was reflected elsewhere. So our grasshoppers and bush crickets should watch out!

New blog just posted on the Beth Chatto website:
www.bethchatto.co.uk/discover/our...

The joys of working there!
#NatureWriting

And best of all this gorgeous fly Ectophasia crassipennis. Only one previous Essex record, and the first I've seen in this country.

15 minutes in Beth Chatto Gardens today:

Cetti's Warbler, prob first for the garden

Another Locust Blowfly. Scarce immigrant to UK (parasite of locusts). We had one about 8 years ago, and then a small influx in August.

Deeply concerned about the safety of those on the flotilla.

We know the government will try ignore it - it's really important we all speak up and raise our voices.

This is a group of people delivering baby food to Gaza and the Government must intervene to ensure their safety.

Two 7-spot Ladybirds with a tiny Red-flanked Ladybird between them, all sitting on a pale canvas background

A Red-flanked Ladybird (Scymnus interruptus) flanked by a pair of much larger 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata), all tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden a couple of days ago. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds #InconspicuousLadybirds

Kemi Badenoch vows to repeal Climate Change Act Tory leader says she would replace it with ‘cheap energy’ strategy, ending decades-long consensus on climate

Tory party’s long journey away from science, reason, responsibility, common sense and truth is complete

Books say Southern Darter not on Menorca, but i have seen them there at this time of year.

Cornwall Botany for September is now published at sylvatica2022.blogspot.com I hope you like the selection of plants I found growing in the wild this month.

Two otters swimming in the sea in bright sunshine

Two otters swimming in the sea in bright sunshine

Two otters swimming in the sea in bright sunshine

Last week, I was treated to seeing these two beautiful otters as they fished together close in to shore near Dornoch. Probably a mother and nearly independent pup, it was lovely to watch them interact with each other
#otters

reflection of buildings in a lake. almost like a sound wave pattern. perfect sky and water

It's #InternationalPodcastDay! We're a podcast of places, telling stories through the sound recorded there.

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...and finally the Barbican. Not much wildlife this time but always much of interest.

... next Fitzrovia...