@nicolaann85.bsky.social
Interests - walking, archaeology, birdwatching, nature and reading. All photographs 📸 my own.
I was hoping to see autumn thrush arrivals today, 30th October, but instead, we saw a clouded yellow butterfly near Brownshill Staunch on the River Ouse as we headed back to Needingworth side of @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen! Speckled wood and a peacock butterfly also seen. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I was hoping to see autumn thrush arrivals today, 30th October, but instead, we saw a clouded yellow butterfly near Brownshill Staunch on the River Ouse as we headed back to Needingworth side of @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen! Speckled wood and a peacock butterfly also seen. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
More interesting fungi today - this time at the lovely @kingfishersbridge.bsky.social nature reserve. Think this is called conical brittlestem. Hundreds of birds on the reserve too and the hot chocolate looked amazing! It's always worth a visit - different habitats in one place.
October 29, 2025 at 3:40 PM
More interesting fungi today - this time at the lovely @kingfishersbridge.bsky.social nature reserve. Think this is called conical brittlestem. Hundreds of birds on the reserve too and the hot chocolate looked amazing! It's always worth a visit - different habitats in one place.
I love the common names of fungi - think top right is Shaggy Scalycap apparently! All seen this week around St Ives Cambridgeshire on our daily walks. #fungifriday
October 24, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I love the common names of fungi - think top right is Shaggy Scalycap apparently! All seen this week around St Ives Cambridgeshire on our daily walks. #fungifriday
It's not my best shot but the first one since February. It makes me so happy to hear these bearded reedlings 'pinging' all the way round the reserve @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen (Earith) this morning. What a wonderful conservation success! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
It's not my best shot but the first one since February. It makes me so happy to hear these bearded reedlings 'pinging' all the way round the reserve @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen (Earith) this morning. What a wonderful conservation success! @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Flower identification help needed. Seen today @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton. Looks like a mullein but slightly different flowers and leaves. Is it a garden escapee? The shield bugs certainly liked it. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Flower identification help needed. Seen today @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton. Looks like a mullein but slightly different flowers and leaves. Is it a garden escapee? The shield bugs certainly liked it. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A common sight here in the Fens and around St Ives but great views of a magnificent heron this morning @midsandeastnt.bsky.social Houghton Mill. It was spoilt for lunch choices as the mill pond was teeming with fish. Beautiful autumn hedgerow too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
October 8, 2025 at 1:05 PM
A common sight here in the Fens and around St Ives but great views of a magnificent heron this morning @midsandeastnt.bsky.social Houghton Mill. It was spoilt for lunch choices as the mill pond was teeming with fish. Beautiful autumn hedgerow too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Saw second wall brown of the week, having never seen one locally before! Sighting this morning was @rspb.bsky.social Berry Fen Bluntisham - no camera so no photograph but definitely a wall brown. Will record. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Saw second wall brown of the week, having never seen one locally before! Sighting this morning was @rspb.bsky.social Berry Fen Bluntisham - no camera so no photograph but definitely a wall brown. Will record. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
First visit to @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath Fen yesterday. So calming, lots of butterflies, dragonflies and birds; the highlight was at least six hobbies overhead - I tried and failed to get a good photograph. We will definitely visit again. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social
September 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
First visit to @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath Fen yesterday. So calming, lots of butterflies, dragonflies and birds; the highlight was at least six hobbies overhead - I tried and failed to get a good photograph. We will definitely visit again. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social
Not my best photographs but two sightings @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen Over this morning that I haven't seen here before: a wall brown butterfly ( couldn't capture its open wings) and a huge goat moth caterpillar. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Not my best photographs but two sightings @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen Over this morning that I haven't seen here before: a wall brown butterfly ( couldn't capture its open wings) and a huge goat moth caterpillar. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
From the wonderful @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood today -Guelder rose and briony berries. Also (top) the fruits of the special wild service tree (I think). #fruits Swathes of Devil's Bit scabious a bonus attracting so many pollinators @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
August 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
From the wonderful @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood today -Guelder rose and briony berries. Also (top) the fruits of the special wild service tree (I think). #fruits Swathes of Devil's Bit scabious a bonus attracting so many pollinators @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A few shots from around the gravel pits at Earith today: a fantastic dryad's saddle fungus, one of many ruddy darters, a solitary brown argus, (lots of white butterflies again) and a cormorant - the king of all he surveys!! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #fantasticfungi
August 17, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A few shots from around the gravel pits at Earith today: a fantastic dryad's saddle fungus, one of many ruddy darters, a solitary brown argus, (lots of white butterflies again) and a cormorant - the king of all he surveys!! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #fantasticfungi
We had a lovely stroll around @wildlifebcn.org Summer Leys NR. Our first visit - we'll be going again as there is so much to see in different habitats. We then visited Earls Barton to see the very special Anglo Saxon tower on the parish church. It too didn't disappoint. #englishhistoricchurches
August 9, 2025 at 7:18 PM
We had a lovely stroll around @wildlifebcn.org Summer Leys NR. Our first visit - we'll be going again as there is so much to see in different habitats. We then visited Earls Barton to see the very special Anglo Saxon tower on the parish church. It too didn't disappoint. #englishhistoricchurches
I think this is three common blue butterflies sharing one birds foot trefoil flower at Coton NR this morning - lots of meadow browns and gatekeepers also hiding in the grass. @cambridgeppf.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
July 16, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I think this is three common blue butterflies sharing one birds foot trefoil flower at Coton NR this morning - lots of meadow browns and gatekeepers also hiding in the grass. @cambridgeppf.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Reposted
It’s our 30th Anniversary Family Open Weekend!
Come and join a guided walk deep into the Reserve and say #buffhello to our herd of Asian Water Buffalo 🐃 🐃🐃🐃
10am-4pm 12-13 July, guided walks hourly, last one leaves at 3pm
Come and join a guided walk deep into the Reserve and say #buffhello to our herd of Asian Water Buffalo 🐃 🐃🐃🐃
10am-4pm 12-13 July, guided walks hourly, last one leaves at 3pm
July 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
It’s our 30th Anniversary Family Open Weekend!
Come and join a guided walk deep into the Reserve and say #buffhello to our herd of Asian Water Buffalo 🐃 🐃🐃🐃
10am-4pm 12-13 July, guided walks hourly, last one leaves at 3pm
Come and join a guided walk deep into the Reserve and say #buffhello to our herd of Asian Water Buffalo 🐃 🐃🐃🐃
10am-4pm 12-13 July, guided walks hourly, last one leaves at 3pm
Lovely stroll around @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social Bradfield Wood NNR today. So many butterflies, it cheers my heart. More silver-washed fritillaries in one place than I've seen in total over the last couple of years - wonderful! @bc-suffolk.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Lovely stroll around @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social Bradfield Wood NNR today. So many butterflies, it cheers my heart. More silver-washed fritillaries in one place than I've seen in total over the last couple of years - wonderful! @bc-suffolk.bsky.social
Certainly, there are so many more red admirals and gate keepers than last year on our patch near St Ives. Lots today along the droves around @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen (Over) as we avoided the cows in the reserve itself! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Certainly, there are so many more red admirals and gate keepers than last year on our patch near St Ives. Lots today along the droves around @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen (Over) as we avoided the cows in the reserve itself! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Caught a lovely white admiral gliding through the brambles @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of large skippers and ringlets too. We wait still to see a purple emperor @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
June 29, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Caught a lovely white admiral gliding through the brambles @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of large skippers and ringlets too. We wait still to see a purple emperor @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Two bumper butterfly days Yesterday walking through @wildlifebcn.org Old Sulehay NR - not seen so many butterflies in one place for a couple of years at least. Numerous marbled whites were the stars. And today at Paxton Pits- including first gatekeepers of 2025 @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
June 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Two bumper butterfly days Yesterday walking through @wildlifebcn.org Old Sulehay NR - not seen so many butterflies in one place for a couple of years at least. Numerous marbled whites were the stars. And today at Paxton Pits- including first gatekeepers of 2025 @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Lots of butterflies on the wing in @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of commas and meadow browns. First ringlets of 2025 for us and a well travelled, painted lady. Beautiful wild flowers, too - fading common spotted orchids and so much more. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Lots of butterflies on the wing in @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of commas and meadow browns. First ringlets of 2025 for us and a well travelled, painted lady. Beautiful wild flowers, too - fading common spotted orchids and so much more. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
Oops, I completely forgot the time but still wanted to post these beautiful common spotted orchids (and ragged robin) for #orchidchallenge. Two of many, many orchids emerging @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this week. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
June 1, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Oops, I completely forgot the time but still wanted to post these beautiful common spotted orchids (and ragged robin) for #orchidchallenge. Two of many, many orchids emerging @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this week. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Spotted @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood. Is this a Mistle Thrush? At first, I thought it was a (juvenile) woodpecker as it was quite a large bird. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
May 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Spotted @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood. Is this a Mistle Thrush? At first, I thought it was a (juvenile) woodpecker as it was quite a large bird. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Just a few of the birds we saw @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton today. Highlight was about 30 cattle egrets on the opposite bank - I think their plummage is fantastic! Heard, but didn't see, two purring turtle doves too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Just a few of the birds we saw @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton today. Highlight was about 30 cattle egrets on the opposite bank - I think their plummage is fantastic! Heard, but didn't see, two purring turtle doves too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted
I was unable to work between December & April due to a breakdown. Every single RT here helps put my creative & mental health workshops in front of more eyes & helps me get back on my feet financially. It would help *so* much if you could RT my workshop below if you have a few seconds. Thankyou 🌿
My 14 June botanical illustration & mental health w'shop's now enrolling
I'll teach you:
🌿How to break down plants into simple shapes & add shading
🧠How time spent creatively alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health.
Limited spaces,earlybird price:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
I'll teach you:
🌿How to break down plants into simple shapes & add shading
🧠How time spent creatively alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health.
Limited spaces,earlybird price:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...
May 19, 2025 at 8:00 PM
I was unable to work between December & April due to a breakdown. Every single RT here helps put my creative & mental health workshops in front of more eyes & helps me get back on my feet financially. It would help *so* much if you could RT my workshop below if you have a few seconds. Thankyou 🌿
Reposted
The new wildlife pond is coming up trumps! So many birds drinking and bathing here 😁❤️
May 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
The new wildlife pond is coming up trumps! So many birds drinking and bathing here 😁❤️
Lovely selection of butterflies and bugs @rspb.bsky.social Hope Farm this morning. Lots of common blues, but I was very pleased to see a small copper and brown argus as we didn't see either locally in 2024. Think it's a cardinal beetle but what an amazing creature. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Lovely selection of butterflies and bugs @rspb.bsky.social Hope Farm this morning. Lots of common blues, but I was very pleased to see a small copper and brown argus as we didn't see either locally in 2024. Think it's a cardinal beetle but what an amazing creature. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social