Graeme Lyons
@graemelyons.bsky.social
Freelance entomologist specialising in reserve management, conservation grazing, rewilding & farming. 2nd place pan-species listing. Spiders. Bugs. Grew up below poverty line. AuDHD. Writing this https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/pan-species-listing
Pinned
It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
1/2 #speciesaday no. 686 is Oblong-leaved Sundew. Not usually as common as Round-leaved Sundew in Sussex. Find it on bare exposed black peaty mud (M16 - along with Sphagnum compactum and Marsh Clubmoss). This one appeared on a scrape at Hesworth Common last year, it also popped up again at Graffham.
February 13, 2026 at 2:44 PM
1/2 #speciesaday no. 686 is Oblong-leaved Sundew. Not usually as common as Round-leaved Sundew in Sussex. Find it on bare exposed black peaty mud (M16 - along with Sphagnum compactum and Marsh Clubmoss). This one appeared on a scrape at Hesworth Common last year, it also popped up again at Graffham.
1,255 for the year! 20.9% of the challenge complete, including 665 invertebrates. A trip out yesterday produced four lifers, one species new to Sussex and one new to West Sussex. A ridiculous 80 Cattle Egrets was hard to believe even when I was looking at them.
6000 species in 2026: 6 week summary
As of today I am on 1,255 species (20.9%) in the first six weeks of the year (665 of which are inverts). The latest addition being a tiny Ps...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:18 PM
1,255 for the year! 20.9% of the challenge complete, including 665 invertebrates. A trip out yesterday produced four lifers, one species new to Sussex and one new to West Sussex. A ridiculous 80 Cattle Egrets was hard to believe even when I was looking at them.
Does anyone happen to have photos of the Newhaven Woodchat Shrike and the Humpback Whale (when it was off Beachy Head) from last year that I could use in some talks about my book please?
February 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Does anyone happen to have photos of the Newhaven Woodchat Shrike and the Humpback Whale (when it was off Beachy Head) from last year that I could use in some talks about my book please?
Thanks so much Dave, this is great to hear!!!
This fabulous book arrived yesterday and I’ve already read it pretty much from cover to cover. I normally prefer audio books and can’t think of another physical book I’ve read so comprehensively for literally decades. Congrats @graemelyons.bsky.social: a fantastic achievement.
February 8, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Thanks so much Dave, this is great to hear!!!
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/02/6000... A quick update on the challenge after a great day out along the Cuckmere.
6000 species in 2026: Month 1 summary
We had a long, much-needed day out yesterday along the Cuckmere and then around to Seaford Head. It was a 'ten-mile day', the sort of day th...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:48 PM
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/02/6000... A quick update on the challenge after a great day out along the Cuckmere.
1/2 #speciesday no. 685 is Tanymecus palliatus. Nationally scarce b. Like large, plain, long-legged Sitona. Feeds on a range of plants in grasslands. All my records are between 15th May and 7th July.
February 1, 2026 at 2:55 PM
1/2 #speciesday no. 685 is Tanymecus palliatus. Nationally scarce b. Like large, plain, long-legged Sitona. Feeds on a range of plants in grasslands. All my records are between 15th May and 7th July.
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
Mine arrived today! Looks fantastic, and so information-rich that I could browse it for weeks. Unlike any other book I know, and one I wish I'd had 50 years ago! Natural history may never be quite the same again...
January 31, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Mine arrived today! Looks fantastic, and so information-rich that I could browse it for weeks. Unlike any other book I know, and one I wish I'd had 50 years ago! Natural history may never be quite the same again...
It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
January 30, 2026 at 12:27 PM
It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.
I am doing a talk on the 4th March at Exeter Hall, just by the Chimney House pub not far from me in Brighton on pan-species listing and the book, I'll also be selling copies at a discounted price exeterstreethall.org/event/2-talk...
£2 Talk Series – ‘10,000 Species’ by Graeme Lyons – Exeter Street Hall, Brighton
exeterstreethall.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:27 PM
I am doing a talk on the 4th March at Exeter Hall, just by the Chimney House pub not far from me in Brighton on pan-species listing and the book, I'll also be selling copies at a discounted price exeterstreethall.org/event/2-talk...
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
This is testimony…
📌 Stella Carlson, “Pink coat lady”, speaks on the murder of Alex Pretti.
“After the shooting, they (ICE) decided to just scatter and save themselves.”
📌 Stella Carlson, “Pink coat lady”, speaks on the murder of Alex Pretti.
“After the shooting, they (ICE) decided to just scatter and save themselves.”
January 28, 2026 at 10:48 AM
This is testimony…
📌 Stella Carlson, “Pink coat lady”, speaks on the murder of Alex Pretti.
“After the shooting, they (ICE) decided to just scatter and save themselves.”
📌 Stella Carlson, “Pink coat lady”, speaks on the murder of Alex Pretti.
“After the shooting, they (ICE) decided to just scatter and save themselves.”
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/1000... I am on 1,025 species as of the 25th January! Read the full story here.
1,000 species recorded in 25 days
On Sunday, I breached the 1,000 species mark on a fantastic and rather unplanned trip out with the local British Bryological Society to Sull...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:18 AM
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/1000... I am on 1,025 species as of the 25th January! Read the full story here.
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
At last I have seen the Juniper Shield Bug, Cyphostethus tristriatus thanks to @graemelyons.bsky.social who pointed them out. Also learned a good technique for bug collecting! Sullington, South Downs #shieldbugs #juniper A good day.
January 25, 2026 at 9:43 PM
At last I have seen the Juniper Shield Bug, Cyphostethus tristriatus thanks to @graemelyons.bsky.social who pointed them out. Also learned a good technique for bug collecting! Sullington, South Downs #shieldbugs #juniper A good day.
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
🦋 Pan-Species Listing: Become a Super-Naturalist
Record all the wildlife you see in the UK and level up your natural history skills.
Join @graemelyons.bsky.social Lyons on 13 May to discover the world of PSL. @panspecieslisting.bsky.social
🎟️ FREE! Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977266072...
Record all the wildlife you see in the UK and level up your natural history skills.
Join @graemelyons.bsky.social Lyons on 13 May to discover the world of PSL. @panspecieslisting.bsky.social
🎟️ FREE! Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977266072...
January 20, 2026 at 10:02 AM
🦋 Pan-Species Listing: Become a Super-Naturalist
Record all the wildlife you see in the UK and level up your natural history skills.
Join @graemelyons.bsky.social Lyons on 13 May to discover the world of PSL. @panspecieslisting.bsky.social
🎟️ FREE! Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977266072...
Record all the wildlife you see in the UK and level up your natural history skills.
Join @graemelyons.bsky.social Lyons on 13 May to discover the world of PSL. @panspecieslisting.bsky.social
🎟️ FREE! Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1977266072...
This is already out of date (I am actually on 837 species) but have a look anyhow... #panspecieslisting #6000speciesin2026 #biologicalrecording @sussexwildlife.bsky.social analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/6000...
6000 species in 2026: Week 2 summary
I reached 774 species (12.9% of the challenge) by the 14th January, 372 of which are invertebrates (there's so much to see in mid winter) . ...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:42 PM
This is already out of date (I am actually on 837 species) but have a look anyhow... #panspecieslisting #6000speciesin2026 #biologicalrecording @sussexwildlife.bsky.social analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/6000...
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
A second Important record for West Sussex, I found it last year. And found it again today at a different site. Centromerus cavernarum.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #centromerus #arachnids
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #centromerus #arachnids
January 14, 2026 at 6:48 PM
A second Important record for West Sussex, I found it last year. And found it again today at a different site. Centromerus cavernarum.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #centromerus #arachnids
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #centromerus #arachnids
Just hit 700 species for the year, with the common leaf beetle Oulema melanopus, from Burton Pond on the 10th! #6000speciesin2026
January 12, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Just hit 700 species for the year, with the common leaf beetle Oulema melanopus, from Burton Pond on the 10th! #6000speciesin2026
1/2 #speciesaday no. 684 is Pardosa pullata. An extremely common wolf spider. The epigyne is very distinctive - think heart-shaped glasses at a jaunty angle! Can turn up pretty much anywhere that is open, most of my records are from the suction sampler. I expect this on every grassland survey.
January 10, 2026 at 7:32 AM
1/2 #speciesaday no. 684 is Pardosa pullata. An extremely common wolf spider. The epigyne is very distinctive - think heart-shaped glasses at a jaunty angle! Can turn up pretty much anywhere that is open, most of my records are from the suction sampler. I expect this on every grassland survey.
As of this morning, I am on 571 species for the year. Here's an update from an exciting spider trip to Stedham & Iping Commons on the 7th January where I found a spider that's not been seen there since 1969 @sussexwildlife.bsky.social analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/6000...
January 10, 2026 at 7:28 AM
As of this morning, I am on 571 species for the year. Here's an update from an exciting spider trip to Stedham & Iping Commons on the 7th January where I found a spider that's not been seen there since 1969 @sussexwildlife.bsky.social analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/6000...
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
Small, pale and interesting - Asthenargus paganus a denizen of the Spruce plantation moss floor. Couple more 🎄Welsh records to add to the UK distribution map. @britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 10:16 AM
Small, pale and interesting - Asthenargus paganus a denizen of the Spruce plantation moss floor. Couple more 🎄Welsh records to add to the UK distribution map. @britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
Another interesting Liny from the dying light of Halvana Plantation of a late afternoon last week. A second Cornish site for Maro minutus. This little 1mm thing is weirdly distinctive in the tray...aided very much by a head torch!! @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social
January 2, 2026 at 9:05 PM
Another interesting Liny from the dying light of Halvana Plantation of a late afternoon last week. A second Cornish site for Maro minutus. This little 1mm thing is weirdly distinctive in the tray...aided very much by a head torch!! @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
Happy new year to all you fellow spiderers! Didn't think I'd be seeing out 2025 with Porrhomma montanum from the deep, cold, darkness of a Bodmin Moor conifer plantation! What is this doing in Cornwall!?! @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
January 1, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Happy new year to all you fellow spiderers! Didn't think I'd be seeing out 2025 with Porrhomma montanum from the deep, cold, darkness of a Bodmin Moor conifer plantation! What is this doing in Cornwall!?! @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
My top ten highlights of 2025! What a difficult year it was to rank these, there were so many amazing moments!
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-t...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-t...
January 1, 2026 at 9:12 AM
My top ten highlights of 2025! What a difficult year it was to rank these, there were so many amazing moments!
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-t...
analternativenaturalhistoryofsussex.blogspot.com/2026/01/my-t...
Reposted by Graeme Lyons
@britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social Some of my favourite UK finds of 2025.
Happy New Year #spiders
Happy New Year #spiders
December 31, 2025 at 2:15 PM
@britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social Some of my favourite UK finds of 2025.
Happy New Year #spiders
Happy New Year #spiders
1/2 #specieaday no. 683 is Andrena minutuloides. Nationally Scarce A. A 'mini-miner'. In Sussex, commonest on the Downs especially arable margins. Slimmer, shinier and with more widely spaced punctures than the much commoner and more widespread Andrena minutula (with which it often occurs).
December 15, 2025 at 6:44 AM
1/2 #specieaday no. 683 is Andrena minutuloides. Nationally Scarce A. A 'mini-miner'. In Sussex, commonest on the Downs especially arable margins. Slimmer, shinier and with more widely spaced punctures than the much commoner and more widespread Andrena minutula (with which it often occurs).
1/2 #speciesaday no. 682 is Tomoxia bucephala. A Nationally Scarce saproxylic 'tumbling flower beetle'. Superficially like the much commoner Variimorda villosa, but a different pattern and more strongly associated with deadwood. I have recorded it between 2nd June and 10th July. Not annual for me.
December 9, 2025 at 6:49 AM
1/2 #speciesaday no. 682 is Tomoxia bucephala. A Nationally Scarce saproxylic 'tumbling flower beetle'. Superficially like the much commoner Variimorda villosa, but a different pattern and more strongly associated with deadwood. I have recorded it between 2nd June and 10th July. Not annual for me.