Dave Appleton
@applewildlife.bsky.social
Interested in pretty much any wildlife, especially birds, moths and a host of other insect groups. Norfolk county recorder for lacewings and allied insects.
Based in North Elmham, Norfolk, UK.
Based in North Elmham, Norfolk, UK.
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Two Pacific Divers off Roskilly (12th Jan). These are probably the third & fourth for Cornwall. Photo includes four Great Northern Diver and two Pacific Diver (extreme right and second left). This is the first time that two Pacific’s have actually been seen and photographed together in Cornwall.
January 12, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Two Pacific Divers off Roskilly (12th Jan). These are probably the third & fourth for Cornwall. Photo includes four Great Northern Diver and two Pacific Diver (extreme right and second left). This is the first time that two Pacific’s have actually been seen and photographed together in Cornwall.
Imagine rediscovering a moth looking as fabulous as this after 140 years of hiding.
The geometrid moth Drepanogynis insciata was only known from two historical specimens collected before 1879. Now, it has been rediscovered in South Africa's Western Cape.
@smnstuttgart.bsky.social
Find out more here: doi.org/10.3897/zook...
@smnstuttgart.bsky.social
Find out more here: doi.org/10.3897/zook...
January 12, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Imagine rediscovering a moth looking as fabulous as this after 140 years of hiding.
For the first time since the spring, I'm up to date getting my photos off my camera. Best bird photo is this showy Sparrowhawk from a visit to family in the Lakes with @andyappleton.bsky.social in Nov. Best local patch bird was this Black-bellied Dipper at Bintree Mill in Dec. #NorfolkBirding 🪶
January 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
For the first time since the spring, I'm up to date getting my photos off my camera. Best bird photo is this showy Sparrowhawk from a visit to family in the Lakes with @andyappleton.bsky.social in Nov. Best local patch bird was this Black-bellied Dipper at Bintree Mill in Dec. #NorfolkBirding 🪶
Reposted by Dave Appleton
This blog post about the Short-billed Gull on Faroe may be of interest to some:
birdingfaroes.wordpress.com
#BirdingScotland
birdingfaroes.wordpress.com
#BirdingScotland
Birdingfaroes
expect the unexpected
birdingfaroes.wordpress.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:36 AM
This blog post about the Short-billed Gull on Faroe may be of interest to some:
birdingfaroes.wordpress.com
#BirdingScotland
birdingfaroes.wordpress.com
#BirdingScotland
Here's a Grey Heron, a Redshank and a Sparrowhawk, from a rare visit to the coast in the summer. Not a very good photo of any of them.
#NorfolkBirding #Birds 🪶
#NorfolkBirding #Birds 🪶
January 3, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Here's a Grey Heron, a Redshank and a Sparrowhawk, from a rare visit to the coast in the summer. Not a very good photo of any of them.
#NorfolkBirding #Birds 🪶
#NorfolkBirding #Birds 🪶
Reposted by Dave Appleton
There’s little / no evidence of the presence of these species. The one mention in an historic document of tree frogs specifically says they were NOT the frog in Norfolk. And to suggest these species were driven out by humans is pure fantasy. No mention of them in this academic book on the subject.
January 2, 2026 at 4:17 PM
There’s little / no evidence of the presence of these species. The one mention in an historic document of tree frogs specifically says they were NOT the frog in Norfolk. And to suggest these species were driven out by humans is pure fantasy. No mention of them in this academic book on the subject.
Reposted by Dave Appleton
This is the height of ecological illiteracy and shows how wannabe zookeepers have taken over UK nature conservation. Evidence for native status of these species is incredibly tenuous; releasing them into one of our most ancient & irreplaceable ecosystems would be crazy.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Three frogs to be reintroduced to West Acre 'pingos'
The money will be spent on breeding thousands of frogs and managing their release in 2026.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 8:50 PM
This is the height of ecological illiteracy and shows how wannabe zookeepers have taken over UK nature conservation. Evidence for native status of these species is incredibly tenuous; releasing them into one of our most ancient & irreplaceable ecosystems would be crazy.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Picked out this aythya hybrid on Peerie Sea, Kirkwall today, presumably Scaup x Tuftie. Luckily it was quite close, might have appeared a better Lesser Scaup contender if in a distant flock of Tufties! Unfortunately, a no cigar scenario.
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
#orkneybirding #birdingscotland
December 31, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Ferruginous x Pochard in the rain at Welney yesterday. Note how this hybrid retains Ferruginous traits of white in secondaries and even white spot on chin. #BirdHybrid #UKBirding
December 17, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Ferruginous x Pochard in the rain at Welney yesterday. Note how this hybrid retains Ferruginous traits of white in secondaries and even white spot on chin. #BirdHybrid #UKBirding
How rare is it to find Pholcus phalangioides in the middle of a field 1/2km from a building? Found in a suction sample in Sept but I wonder if it could have entered the bag while the sampler was at home? I'd have shaken the bag out prior to sampling but maybe missed it? @britishspiders.bsky.social
December 20, 2025 at 9:45 PM
How rare is it to find Pholcus phalangioides in the middle of a field 1/2km from a building? Found in a suction sample in Sept but I wonder if it could have entered the bag while the sampler was at home? I'd have shaken the bag out prior to sampling but maybe missed it? @britishspiders.bsky.social
A fabulous record - these are hard to find in Norfolk. They’re recorded much less than annually, though I wonder if with a bit more targeted searching they’d perhaps turn up a little more often?
A walk in the woods at Felbrigg with @jeremybartlett.bsky.social brought a longed for insect - Boreus hyemalis aka Snow Flea. Managed to spot a male then found a female and another male in a second patch of moss. Happy days!
December 20, 2025 at 12:43 AM
A fabulous record - these are hard to find in Norfolk. They’re recorded much less than annually, though I wonder if with a bit more targeted searching they’d perhaps turn up a little more often?
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Gall of the week is one you may be bringing into your home this week. It is the gall of the aphid Sacciphantes viridis on Norway spruce, Picea abies.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
December 18, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Gall of the week is one you may be bringing into your home this week. It is the gall of the aphid Sacciphantes viridis on Norway spruce, Picea abies.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Today is International Migrants Day.
The immigration debate has become increasingly toxic - so we asked the public what they think.
Watch and share if you agree 🔁
The immigration debate has become increasingly toxic - so we asked the public what they think.
Watch and share if you agree 🔁
December 18, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Today is International Migrants Day.
The immigration debate has become increasingly toxic - so we asked the public what they think.
Watch and share if you agree 🔁
The immigration debate has become increasingly toxic - so we asked the public what they think.
Watch and share if you agree 🔁
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Save the dates!
Our winter talks will recommence in January at the Sprowston Diamond Centre. First up Wednesday 14th January Helen Booth, Water Voles - a Landscape Perspective
Then Friday 23rd January Dave Appleton, Bats About Moths - Celebrating the Wonder and Diversity of Norfolk's Moths.
Our winter talks will recommence in January at the Sprowston Diamond Centre. First up Wednesday 14th January Helen Booth, Water Voles - a Landscape Perspective
Then Friday 23rd January Dave Appleton, Bats About Moths - Celebrating the Wonder and Diversity of Norfolk's Moths.
December 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Save the dates!
Our winter talks will recommence in January at the Sprowston Diamond Centre. First up Wednesday 14th January Helen Booth, Water Voles - a Landscape Perspective
Then Friday 23rd January Dave Appleton, Bats About Moths - Celebrating the Wonder and Diversity of Norfolk's Moths.
Our winter talks will recommence in January at the Sprowston Diamond Centre. First up Wednesday 14th January Helen Booth, Water Voles - a Landscape Perspective
Then Friday 23rd January Dave Appleton, Bats About Moths - Celebrating the Wonder and Diversity of Norfolk's Moths.
Reposted by Dave Appleton
The Invisible Bug?
An appreciation of Cardiastethus fasciiventris.
#Video: youtu.be/fiupgUPR218
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55
An appreciation of Cardiastethus fasciiventris.
#Video: youtu.be/fiupgUPR218
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55
The Invisible Bug?
YouTube video by Alan Cann
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 11:48 AM
The Invisible Bug?
An appreciation of Cardiastethus fasciiventris.
#Video: youtu.be/fiupgUPR218
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55
An appreciation of Cardiastethus fasciiventris.
#Video: youtu.be/fiupgUPR218
#Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Gnarly neuroptera-mimic caterpillar I spotted in Costa Rica. It would whip it's head back as if it was trying to bite when I poked it with a stick
December 3, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Gnarly neuroptera-mimic caterpillar I spotted in Costa Rica. It would whip it's head back as if it was trying to bite when I poked it with a stick
I’m still looking forward to my first Hawk Owl of the winter 🤤 😵💫
Hawk Owl. My first of the winter this evening. Performed superbly. Always make time for the #BestBirdInTheUniverse! 😍😎 #birds #owls #SuperbOwl #birding #finland #birdwatching
November 23, 2025 at 3:50 PM
I’m still looking forward to my first Hawk Owl of the winter 🤤 😵💫
Is it safe to call this Callitula pyrrhogaster or are there any confusion species? I can't find a relevant key but it looks like other photos of this species and it's supposed to be distinctive. It's 1.5mm long and was found by suction in late July in grass at the edge of wet woodland in Norfolk.
November 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Is it safe to call this Callitula pyrrhogaster or are there any confusion species? I can't find a relevant key but it looks like other photos of this species and it's supposed to be distinctive. It's 1.5mm long and was found by suction in late July in grass at the edge of wet woodland in Norfolk.
So it seems that today Brazil has laid on (unintentionally I assume) raging fire, torrential rain, extreme heat and food shortages to give #COP30 delegates a taste of what life will soon be like (already is for many) if they don’t start treating #ClimateChange seriously. Will they get the message?
November 20, 2025 at 9:00 PM
So it seems that today Brazil has laid on (unintentionally I assume) raging fire, torrential rain, extreme heat and food shortages to give #COP30 delegates a taste of what life will soon be like (already is for many) if they don’t start treating #ClimateChange seriously. Will they get the message?
I thought I had a lot of moth records (with >10,000 from this year still to submit) but that’s small fry compared to what’s already been submitted by everyone else. I don’t envy the moth county recorder’s job! Well done Jim…
WOW! We have just passed 3.5 million records, it is certainly a record breaking year, details to come in December as I attempt a New for Norfolk advent calendar and post a species per day 😅... Yes we have had that many!!! #teammoth #norfolkmoths
November 19, 2025 at 9:47 AM
I thought I had a lot of moth records (with >10,000 from this year still to submit) but that’s small fry compared to what’s already been submitted by everyone else. I don’t envy the moth county recorder’s job! Well done Jim…
Today at Welney, Pochard numbers building up now including the Ferruginous/Pochard hybrid returning
November 18, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Just visited the Lacewing Recording Scheme website and there are lots of great identification guides available, e.g. www.laars.jamesjepson.com/neuroptera-l... - thanks to @jamesjepson.bsky.social and colleagues for putting this together
Neuroptera (Lacewings) Identification | Lacewing and Allies Recording Scheme
www.laars.jamesjepson.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Just visited the Lacewing Recording Scheme website and there are lots of great identification guides available, e.g. www.laars.jamesjepson.com/neuroptera-l... - thanks to @jamesjepson.bsky.social and colleagues for putting this together
Not sure why this hasn’t appeared on the #Neuroptera feed yet - hopefully just a matter of timing and it will be there soon. Love seeing examples of Neuroptera and allied orders from other parts of the globe.
This small lacewing was a more unusual visitor to the garden light recently. Identified on #inaturalist as Carobius pulchellus, a member of the Brown Lacewing family (Hemerobiidae). This is just the 3rd observation of this species in WA
#ausinverts #wildoz #Neuroptera #lacewing #bugsky #nature
#ausinverts #wildoz #Neuroptera #lacewing #bugsky #nature
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Not sure why this hasn’t appeared on the #Neuroptera feed yet - hopefully just a matter of timing and it will be there soon. Love seeing examples of Neuroptera and allied orders from other parts of the globe.
The Lesser Scaup at Swithland Res had disappeared by the time I went to look for it this afternoon, but I did see something even rarer - this Gadwall x Mallard hybrid. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Reposted by Dave Appleton
Terrific Pallid Swift at West Runton today.
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Terrific Pallid Swift at West Runton today.