Matt Ames
@mattames6.bsky.social
Obsessed with natural history. Bedfordshire based
Reposted by Matt Ames
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
January 27, 2026 at 9:26 PM
Tears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
Reposted by Matt Ames
Very pleased to share #OpenAccess paper, which we think is important to understand woodland bird declines and impact of forestry on native ancient woodland in Britain.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social
🧵1/n
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social
🧵1/n
January 23, 2026 at 12:27 PM
Very pleased to share #OpenAccess paper, which we think is important to understand woodland bird declines and impact of forestry on native ancient woodland in Britain.
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social
🧵1/n
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social
🧵1/n
3 species of Psychidae on one section of wooden fence. Whilst I was passing by I decided to check the fence where last year I counted over 1000 Luffia lapidella cases, found 853 today along with a probable Dahlica sp. case (needs rearing to confirm) A bonus Psyche casta was nfy. VC30 #teammoth
January 19, 2026 at 11:27 PM
3 species of Psychidae on one section of wooden fence. Whilst I was passing by I decided to check the fence where last year I counted over 1000 Luffia lapidella cases, found 853 today along with a probable Dahlica sp. case (needs rearing to confirm) A bonus Psyche casta was nfy. VC30 #teammoth
Managed #theWinterTen on today's litter pick, with a dozen species in flower. Highlights were Sweet Violets (Viola odorata), my 1st Primrose (Primula vulgaris) of the year, ever-reliable Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and what I suspect is Common Whitlow-grass (Erophila verna agg). #WildflowerHour
January 18, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Managed #theWinterTen on today's litter pick, with a dozen species in flower. Highlights were Sweet Violets (Viola odorata), my 1st Primrose (Primula vulgaris) of the year, ever-reliable Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and what I suspect is Common Whitlow-grass (Erophila verna agg). #WildflowerHour
Red-letter day on patch today. I've checked the 'likely-looking' hole in a distant Ash tree hundreds of times on the off chance an owl would be roosting there, today a Tawny Owl was. To top it off a little while later a male and female Marsh Harrier drifted past overhead, patch tick!
January 17, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Red-letter day on patch today. I've checked the 'likely-looking' hole in a distant Ash tree hundreds of times on the off chance an owl would be roosting there, today a Tawny Owl was. To top it off a little while later a male and female Marsh Harrier drifted past overhead, patch tick!
Reposted by Matt Ames
The International Swan Census takes place this weekend, 17-18 January. If you record any Bewick's or Whooper Swans in BirdTrack, we would greatly appreciate if you could add details on the number of adults and juveniles, habitat and location pinpoint #ukbirding
Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
January 16, 2026 at 11:02 AM
The International Swan Census takes place this weekend, 17-18 January. If you record any Bewick's or Whooper Swans in BirdTrack, we would greatly appreciate if you could add details on the number of adults and juveniles, habitat and location pinpoint #ukbirding
Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
Reposted by Matt Ames
New year new square? Skill up for the 2026 season with our Intro to NPMS Survey & Methodology online Zoom webinar 8th January 12.30 - 14.00 great for a skills refresh or as an intro to the scheme for new volunteers. https://ow.ly/4TAV50XRSjC
📸Ros Walters
📸Ros Walters
January 5, 2026 at 12:16 PM
New year new square? Skill up for the 2026 season with our Intro to NPMS Survey & Methodology online Zoom webinar 8th January 12.30 - 14.00 great for a skills refresh or as an intro to the scheme for new volunteers. https://ow.ly/4TAV50XRSjC
📸Ros Walters
📸Ros Walters
Reposted by Matt Ames
1/ Can you help us count Bewick's and Whooper Swans for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January 2026? 🦢
Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub...
#Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social
Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub...
#Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social
December 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
1/ Can you help us count Bewick's and Whooper Swans for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January 2026? 🦢
Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub...
#Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social
Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub...
#Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social
Rusty-dot Pearl a nice surprise on the wall by the post box this morning here in Bedfordshire VC30
December 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Rusty-dot Pearl a nice surprise on the wall by the post box this morning here in Bedfordshire VC30
Surprisingly still plenty of flowers around for this week's #Wildflowerhour Nice to see Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis semperviens) among others on walks on a couple of the less damp and breezy days.
November 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Surprisingly still plenty of flowers around for this week's #Wildflowerhour Nice to see Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis semperviens) among others on walks on a couple of the less damp and breezy days.
Managed to get out for a brief walk today. A quick look at the Brambles turned up 2 Coleophora potentillae cases. VC30 Bedfordshire
#teammoth
#teammoth
October 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Managed to get out for a brief walk today. A quick look at the Brambles turned up 2 Coleophora potentillae cases. VC30 Bedfordshire
#teammoth
#teammoth
Galeruca tanaceti in good numbers on my patch recently. Bucking the trend of many of it's Chrysomelidae 'cousins' in going for a rugged, punctured finish, as opposed to the more usual metallic sheen.
October 14, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Galeruca tanaceti in good numbers on my patch recently. Bucking the trend of many of it's Chrysomelidae 'cousins' in going for a rugged, punctured finish, as opposed to the more usual metallic sheen.
Dark Swordgrass made a nice addition to the 'on the garden Ivy' list this evening, a couple of Common Plume keeping it company.
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
October 14, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Dark Swordgrass made a nice addition to the 'on the garden Ivy' list this evening, a couple of Common Plume keeping it company.
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30
#teammoth
Reposted by Matt Ames
For #Arachtober, here is a spider that's not a spider. It's Petrophila jaliscalis, a jumping-spider-mimicking moth - see the face-on spider pattern, with orange legs and sparkly dark eyes? I love finding these - I think they breed in my small goldfish pond, because the caterpillars are aquatic. 🌿🐙
October 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
For #Arachtober, here is a spider that's not a spider. It's Petrophila jaliscalis, a jumping-spider-mimicking moth - see the face-on spider pattern, with orange legs and sparkly dark eyes? I love finding these - I think they breed in my small goldfish pond, because the caterpillars are aquatic. 🌿🐙
Quite a few to choose from for this week's #Wildflowerhour including Dwarf Mallow (M. neglecta) and Musk Mallow (M. moschata), still some Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on show, and a single Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) on arable margin, glandular hairs checked. Bedfordshire VC30
October 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Quite a few to choose from for this week's #Wildflowerhour including Dwarf Mallow (M. neglecta) and Musk Mallow (M. moschata), still some Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on show, and a single Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) on arable margin, glandular hairs checked. Bedfordshire VC30
Reposted by Matt Ames
Excited to find drawings of moths by FW Frohawk (1861-1946) in the archive of biologist William Bateson @theul.bsky.social.
They’re catalogued as ‘27 drawings of Milan Leps’, but think this should be ‘Melan[istic] Leps’? Do they look right for showing melanism, #TeamMoth? MS Add. 8634/J.3 #EntHist
They’re catalogued as ‘27 drawings of Milan Leps’, but think this should be ‘Melan[istic] Leps’? Do they look right for showing melanism, #TeamMoth? MS Add. 8634/J.3 #EntHist
![Montage showing coloured illustrations of moths and the envelope in which they’re kept. There is blue handwriting on the envelope, which might read: ‘Frohawk’s drawings [o]f Melan[istic] Leps’.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:spsmiagur74jvkmhduvkmki6/bafkreif2nqrqp7234ghv6gzn7avjaq5qdirknvp6su4octwkbkp5mjd6ry@jpeg)
October 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Excited to find drawings of moths by FW Frohawk (1861-1946) in the archive of biologist William Bateson @theul.bsky.social.
They’re catalogued as ‘27 drawings of Milan Leps’, but think this should be ‘Melan[istic] Leps’? Do they look right for showing melanism, #TeamMoth? MS Add. 8634/J.3 #EntHist
They’re catalogued as ‘27 drawings of Milan Leps’, but think this should be ‘Melan[istic] Leps’? Do they look right for showing melanism, #TeamMoth? MS Add. 8634/J.3 #EntHist
Cloudy and mild last night with lots of activity on the garden Ivy..
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
October 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Cloudy and mild last night with lots of activity on the garden Ivy..
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
3 Large Yellow Underwing,
2 Green-brindled Crescent,
2 Common Plume,
Ypsolopha mucronella,
Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30.
#teammoth
Reposted by Matt Ames
This seems to be a female Ichneumon extensorius wasp that I found in my back garden today in Wadebridge. There's only 1 prior record for it in Cornwall from 1906, so any knowledgable insect person's input would be most welcome.
October 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This seems to be a female Ichneumon extensorius wasp that I found in my back garden today in Wadebridge. There's only 1 prior record for it in Cornwall from 1906, so any knowledgable insect person's input would be most welcome.
Reposted by Matt Ames
Back in June, we hosted a team from #GardenersWorld to share how we’ve been improving the grounds of the National Museums Collection Centre for biodiversity. 🎬 🐞🪰🌿🌼
Catch it here:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
#NMCCbiodiversity
Catch it here:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
#NMCCbiodiversity
October 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Back in June, we hosted a team from #GardenersWorld to share how we’ve been improving the grounds of the National Museums Collection Centre for biodiversity. 🎬 🐞🪰🌿🌼
Catch it here:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
#NMCCbiodiversity
Catch it here:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
#NMCCbiodiversity
Decent returns from the moth trap last night, 71 of 31 species. Great variety, autumn species, late (2nd brood) 'summer' moths plus migrants. Highlights inc Sallow ab.flavescens, L-album Wainscot, Barred Sallow and probable Ancylosis oblitella.
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
October 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Decent returns from the moth trap last night, 71 of 31 species. Great variety, autumn species, late (2nd brood) 'summer' moths plus migrants. Highlights inc Sallow ab.flavescens, L-album Wainscot, Barred Sallow and probable Ancylosis oblitella.
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Bedfordshire VC30.
#Teammoth
Highlights from my local patch this week include my 1st Clouded Yellow of the year, present for at least 3 days favouring a set aside field, and a patch-tick Grass Snake. Seen sunbathing on a grass verge, I only managed to get a record shot but exciting to see nonetheless. VC30
September 28, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Highlights from my local patch this week include my 1st Clouded Yellow of the year, present for at least 3 days favouring a set aside field, and a patch-tick Grass Snake. Seen sunbathing on a grass verge, I only managed to get a record shot but exciting to see nonetheless. VC30
Still lots in flower around my local patch this week, making the most of it whilst it lasts. Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia) and Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) both putting on a fine show here in Bedfordshire VC30
#Wildflowerhour
#Wildflowerhour
September 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Still lots in flower around my local patch this week, making the most of it whilst it lasts. Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia) and Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) both putting on a fine show here in Bedfordshire VC30
#Wildflowerhour
#Wildflowerhour
Forgot to add you @vc30moths.bsky.social
I've entered the record on iRecord under the genus name as species isn't listed yet with a note in the comments, hope that's ok.
I've entered the record on iRecord under the genus name as species isn't listed yet with a note in the comments, hope that's ok.
I think I might have found mines of Phyllocnistis extrematrix on new growth of Black Poplar here in Bedfordshire VC30..
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
@vc28wildlife.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Forgot to add you @vc30moths.bsky.social
I've entered the record on iRecord under the genus name as species isn't listed yet with a note in the comments, hope that's ok.
I've entered the record on iRecord under the genus name as species isn't listed yet with a note in the comments, hope that's ok.
A couple of yesterday's finds on patch here in Bedfordshire VC30. Always nice to see Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, one of my favourite inverts. Also really good to see 2 Whinchat on passage in the usual location I see them each autumn. Both still present today and seemingly feeding well.
September 21, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A couple of yesterday's finds on patch here in Bedfordshire VC30. Always nice to see Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, one of my favourite inverts. Also really good to see 2 Whinchat on passage in the usual location I see them each autumn. Both still present today and seemingly feeding well.