Palustris
@palustris.bsky.social
Ecologist. Meadows, mires & meres. Wetland beetles, fen creation, Teesside birds. Green.
Sheep-puddled margins provide excellent habitat in this Teesside pond, trampling inhibiting growth of reedmace and maintaining open conditions. Both Chara and Nitella stoneworts are present along with a range of pioneer insects such as Mottled Backswimmer (Notonecta maculata).
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Sheep-puddled margins provide excellent habitat in this Teesside pond, trampling inhibiting growth of reedmace and maintaining open conditions. Both Chara and Nitella stoneworts are present along with a range of pioneer insects such as Mottled Backswimmer (Notonecta maculata).
15.00: Greenshank again on Salterns, silty pool between new floodbank and tank farm embankment. Merlin over Greenabella Marsh.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
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@teesbirds.bsky.social
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November 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
15.00: Greenshank again on Salterns, silty pool between new floodbank and tank farm embankment. Merlin over Greenabella Marsh.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
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@teesbirds.bsky.social
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Hartlepool Headland 8.00-10.15: small movement of Little Gulls south, 20 in total. Regular Mediterranean Gull, 28 Red-throated Divers, Snow Bunting over. Harbour Porpoise, 2 (different?) pods of dolphins, first v hyperactive, jumping clear of water but distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Hartlepool Headland 8.00-10.15: small movement of Little Gulls south, 20 in total. Regular Mediterranean Gull, 28 Red-throated Divers, Snow Bunting over. Harbour Porpoise, 2 (different?) pods of dolphins, first v hyperactive, jumping clear of water but distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Palustris
Zohran's campaign was his determination to make New York a city everyone can afford to live in. Huge congratulations!
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Zohran's campaign was his determination to make New York a city everyone can afford to live in. Huge congratulations!
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
His success will resonate throughout the world. A story where no one is left behind.
It's time to write that story across England & Wales too.
Hartlepool Headland 9-11.30: 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Puffin, 3 Little Gulls all moving S. Purple Sandpipers on rocks at low tide. Harbour Porpoise.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Hartlepool Headland 9-11.30: 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Puffin, 3 Little Gulls all moving S. Purple Sandpipers on rocks at low tide. Harbour Porpoise.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
This sprawling brassica has suddenly become a prolific weed on the allotments. Don't recall seeing it before this year. Basal leaves coarsely toothed, bristly and stalked. I'm keying it to either Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) or Black Mustard (Brassica nigra). Does that sound right, botanists?
November 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This sprawling brassica has suddenly become a prolific weed on the allotments. Don't recall seeing it before this year. Basal leaves coarsely toothed, bristly and stalked. I'm keying it to either Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) or Black Mustard (Brassica nigra). Does that sound right, botanists?
Hartlepool Headland 8.30-11.00: Quiet - 29 Red-throated Divers, c 120 v distant ?Pinkfeet S, 4 Goosanders, 1 Mediterranean Gull. Harbour Porpoise, Grey & Harbour Seals.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8.30-11.00: Quiet - 29 Red-throated Divers, c 120 v distant ?Pinkfeet S, 4 Goosanders, 1 Mediterranean Gull. Harbour Porpoise, Grey & Harbour Seals.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
The diving beetle Deronectes latus was described as new to science by J.F. Stephens in 1829 from specimen collected by L. Rudd of Marton Lodge (now Stewart's Park, Middlesbrough). Ormesby Beck, a short walk away, would have been nearest likely habitat for this running water species.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The diving beetle Deronectes latus was described as new to science by J.F. Stephens in 1829 from specimen collected by L. Rudd of Marton Lodge (now Stewart's Park, Middlesbrough). Ormesby Beck, a short walk away, would have been nearest likely habitat for this running water species.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
There is a universality to Dictator Kitsch: this would not have looked out of place in Mussolini's villa, or the palaces of Saddam/Ceausescu/Kim Jong-un/Erdogan. The incredible thing is that millions of people losing their health care and food stamps will still vote for Trump.
November 1, 2025 at 11:15 AM
There is a universality to Dictator Kitsch: this would not have looked out of place in Mussolini's villa, or the palaces of Saddam/Ceausescu/Kim Jong-un/Erdogan. The incredible thing is that millions of people losing their health care and food stamps will still vote for Trump.
A duck decoy operated on Coatham Marsh (Redcar) up to 1872. Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Scaup, Shelduck were trapped, with a Ferruginous Duck caught in 1850. The area south of Marsh House has long since been tipped over.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
October 31, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A duck decoy operated on Coatham Marsh (Redcar) up to 1872. Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Scaup, Shelduck were trapped, with a Ferruginous Duck caught in 1850. The area south of Marsh House has long since been tipped over.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Hartlepool Headland 8.15-10.45: highlight was Great Northern Diver flyby v close in. 17 Red-throated Divers, small numbers of various duck, still a few Gannets and Guillemots but numbers much diminished. Several small flocks of Starlings in/off.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8.15-10.45: highlight was Great Northern Diver flyby v close in. 17 Red-throated Divers, small numbers of various duck, still a few Gannets and Guillemots but numbers much diminished. Several small flocks of Starlings in/off.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Greenshank, Peregrine on saltmarsh N side of Greatham Creek. @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Greenshank, Peregrine on saltmarsh N side of Greatham Creek. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Hartlepool Headland 8.45-10.45: 2 Great Northern Divers, 10 Red-throated Divers, 4 Whooper Swans S, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Arctic Tern.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 30, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8.45-10.45: 2 Great Northern Divers, 10 Red-throated Divers, 4 Whooper Swans S, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Arctic Tern.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Hartlepool Headland 8-10: Quiet, 1 Velvet Scoter N, 1 Woodcock in/off, 12 Red-throated Divers, Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8-10: Quiet, 1 Velvet Scoter N, 1 Woodcock in/off, 12 Red-throated Divers, Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Hartlepool Headland 7.45-10.15: highlight was a Little Auk N at 09.13, close-in. Also 3 Arctic Terns, 3 Little Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Ducks. Ca 500 geese S at 9am, v distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Hartlepool Headland 7.45-10.15: highlight was a Little Auk N at 09.13, close-in. Also 3 Arctic Terns, 3 Little Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Ducks. Ca 500 geese S at 9am, v distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Hartlepool Headland 8-12: 6 Great Skuas, 12 Little Gulls, 10 Arctic Terns, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Long-tailed Ducks. @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8-12: 6 Great Skuas, 12 Little Gulls, 10 Arctic Terns, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Long-tailed Ducks. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Didn't expect much from this reedy, urban-fringe ditch nr Stockton-on-Tees but 13 water beetles included Hydroporus figuratus, an uncommon small diving beetle of shaded fen. This species can occur in both boldly-marked and almost completely dark forms. It was abundant in this ditch.
October 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Didn't expect much from this reedy, urban-fringe ditch nr Stockton-on-Tees but 13 water beetles included Hydroporus figuratus, an uncommon small diving beetle of shaded fen. This species can occur in both boldly-marked and almost completely dark forms. It was abundant in this ditch.
2 Whooper Swans flying up the Tees at Bowesfield Marsh NR 14.45, Cetti's Warbler calling.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 2:05 PM
2 Whooper Swans flying up the Tees at Bowesfield Marsh NR 14.45, Cetti's Warbler calling.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by Palustris
Leaves change colour in autumn because, as days shorten, trees stop producing chlorophyll; the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. This allows other pigments already in the leaf to become visible. Some trees produce new pigments (anthocyanins); creating vibrant reds and purples...
October 22, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Leaves change colour in autumn because, as days shorten, trees stop producing chlorophyll; the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis. This allows other pigments already in the leaf to become visible. Some trees produce new pigments (anthocyanins); creating vibrant reds and purples...
Hartlepool Headland 07.30-10.00: Disappointing, 1 ?Arctic Skua N, 1 Mediterranean Gull, several Little Gulls & commic terns, 13 RT Divers.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Hartlepool Headland 07.30-10.00: Disappointing, 1 ?Arctic Skua N, 1 Mediterranean Gull, several Little Gulls & commic terns, 13 RT Divers.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Bioabundance: A Tudor account of insects washed downstream by a winter flood on the River Severn, in such vast quantities that they jammed up water mills for four days and had to be dug out by the shovel load.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Bioabundance: A Tudor account of insects washed downstream by a winter flood on the River Severn, in such vast quantities that they jammed up water mills for four days and had to be dug out by the shovel load.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Hartlepool Headland 07.45-9.15: quiet. Little Gulls still feeding offshore. 2 ?Arctic Skuas N, v distant. 4 Arctic Terns S.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Hartlepool Headland 07.45-9.15: quiet. Little Gulls still feeding offshore. 2 ?Arctic Skuas N, v distant. 4 Arctic Terns S.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Currently investigating water beetles as ancient wetland indicators but nature is messy. Agabus uliginosus is often associated with pool systems of natural origin (e.g. "pingos" in Norfolk, kettle holes in NW Yorks) but in Vale of York/Humberhead Levels, it occurs in a wider range of habitats.
October 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Currently investigating water beetles as ancient wetland indicators but nature is messy. Agabus uliginosus is often associated with pool systems of natural origin (e.g. "pingos" in Norfolk, kettle holes in NW Yorks) but in Vale of York/Humberhead Levels, it occurs in a wider range of habitats.
Hartlepool Headland 07.45-10.00: 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Little Gull, 1 Brent Goose, 17 RT Divers, dolphins, Harbour Porpoise.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Hartlepool Headland 07.45-10.00: 2 Manx Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Little Gull, 1 Brent Goose, 17 RT Divers, dolphins, Harbour Porpoise.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social