Simon Phelps
@simonphelps.bsky.social
Conservationist, naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer. https://wildlifephelps.wixsite.com/wildlifephelps
The birds are back! Great @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social Steart Marshes. Dunlin, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Peregrine, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier. The mesmerising Dunlin murmuration is always a joy to see.
November 9, 2025 at 11:44 AM
The birds are back! Great @webs-gsmp.bsky.social count today at @wwtworldwide.bsky.social Steart Marshes. Dunlin, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Peregrine, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier. The mesmerising Dunlin murmuration is always a joy to see.
One of the most amazing things about Corfu was the swifts. They screeched across the sky in the old town, screaming over the rooftops and through the squares. It was a raw and thrilling spectacle. Two different photos here, one black and white and the other colour. Which do you prefer?
October 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
One of the most amazing things about Corfu was the swifts. They screeched across the sky in the old town, screaming over the rooftops and through the squares. It was a raw and thrilling spectacle. Two different photos here, one black and white and the other colour. Which do you prefer?
Another amazing insect from Corfu. This glittering beetle is a Cerocoma species, maybe schreberi. I found it in the sand dunes at Korission Lagoon. It had wacky looking antennae, orange and twisted looking!
October 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Another amazing insect from Corfu. This glittering beetle is a Cerocoma species, maybe schreberi. I found it in the sand dunes at Korission Lagoon. It had wacky looking antennae, orange and twisted looking!
This is an excellent point. Well phrased. Compromise upon compromise. Resulting in a shifting baseline of environmental protection erosion. Sometimes we have to fight for what the rules say. If we don't we risk losing them.
farmework. This is a planning system working, ultimately a compromise never satisfies and reflects no ideal scenario. The danger is we pile compromise upon compromise and over time rationalise away the actual meaning behind our statutory environmental plans. Chip by chip slowly we transform
October 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
This is an excellent point. Well phrased. Compromise upon compromise. Resulting in a shifting baseline of environmental protection erosion. Sometimes we have to fight for what the rules say. If we don't we risk losing them.
We've lost most of our orchards and no longer eat the majority of our British apple varieties. It was therefore wonderful to visit @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele to see their amazing orchards. Rightly celebrating the incredible diversity of British apple varieties. We need to value them more.
October 1, 2025 at 8:21 AM
We've lost most of our orchards and no longer eat the majority of our British apple varieties. It was therefore wonderful to visit @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele to see their amazing orchards. Rightly celebrating the incredible diversity of British apple varieties. We need to value them more.
Many people are afraid of spiders. However it would be hard to be scared of this one. This is Aelurillus v-insignitus, which I found on the dune heaths in Dorset last year. A lovely little jumping spider, very charming! Thanks to @tylanberry.bsky.social for the ID! @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
September 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Many people are afraid of spiders. However it would be hard to be scared of this one. This is Aelurillus v-insignitus, which I found on the dune heaths in Dorset last year. A lovely little jumping spider, very charming! Thanks to @tylanberry.bsky.social for the ID! @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Two more photos of the stunning Comma butterfly that I saw recently at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele. It was so fresh! I loved the lichen green spots on the underside of the wing. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Two more photos of the stunning Comma butterfly that I saw recently at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele. It was so fresh! I loved the lichen green spots on the underside of the wing. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 14 species. Box tree moth was the most numerous with 5 caught. Expected more due to warm temperatures. #teammoth
September 18, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 14 species. Box tree moth was the most numerous with 5 caught. Expected more due to warm temperatures. #teammoth
One of my favourite birds from Corfu was the Black-winged Stilt. Comically long red legs, looking gangly and un-elegant when in flight. Much more graceful when delicately wading through the water. Stunning birds to see up close.
September 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
One of my favourite birds from Corfu was the Black-winged Stilt. Comically long red legs, looking gangly and un-elegant when in flight. Much more graceful when delicately wading through the water. Stunning birds to see up close.
Fantastic camouflage on this Comma butterfly. Seen at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele in its fabulous orchard at the weekend. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Fantastic camouflage on this Comma butterfly. Seen at @nationaltrust.org.uk Cotehele in its fabulous orchard at the weekend. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
This is insane. A conservation charity telling people to use plastic to create 'homes' for insects. Complete nonsense and environmentally damaging. And apparently supported by the Lottery! Crazy. I hate this type of 'bug hotel' stuff too. @froglife.bsky.social
September 2, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This is insane. A conservation charity telling people to use plastic to create 'homes' for insects. Complete nonsense and environmentally damaging. And apparently supported by the Lottery! Crazy. I hate this type of 'bug hotel' stuff too. @froglife.bsky.social
One of the best things I did on the Isle of Skye was visit Claigan coral beach. Yes, a beach made of coral! I had never heard of such a thing. Every handful of 'sand' contained hundreds of unique pieces of maerl coral. It was wonderfully unique and intricate, very beautiful. A really special place.
September 1, 2025 at 4:45 PM
One of the best things I did on the Isle of Skye was visit Claigan coral beach. Yes, a beach made of coral! I had never heard of such a thing. Every handful of 'sand' contained hundreds of unique pieces of maerl coral. It was wonderfully unique and intricate, very beautiful. A really special place.
Beauty and the beast. The contrast between the natural beauty of a Peacock butterfly and the harshness of man made barbed wire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Beauty and the beast. The contrast between the natural beauty of a Peacock butterfly and the harshness of man made barbed wire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Yesterday was one of my favourite days of the year. The day I pick the bullaces. We make gin from them every year. I always approach with trepidation as sometimes the crop is poor. This was a good harvest. My winter is safe now, I'll have the delicious gin to get me through.
August 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Yesterday was one of my favourite days of the year. The day I pick the bullaces. We make gin from them every year. I always approach with trepidation as sometimes the crop is poor. This was a good harvest. My winter is safe now, I'll have the delicious gin to get me through.
I think this is a huge part of why our wildlife is struggling so much. The large scale habitat destruction took place a while ago. It is the eradication of these small scraps that now wipes away any refuge things have. They have nowhere to go. Almost everything is gone.
Yesterday, I passed this small patch that had somehow escaped the ubiquitous ryegrass and sheep/cattle treatment.
It stood out like a flashing neon light, thronged with wildflowers,native trees, flying insects, and birds. Nature's only way of crying out to just be given a chance.
It stood out like a flashing neon light, thronged with wildflowers,native trees, flying insects, and birds. Nature's only way of crying out to just be given a chance.
August 17, 2025 at 7:54 AM
I think this is a huge part of why our wildlife is struggling so much. The large scale habitat destruction took place a while ago. It is the eradication of these small scraps that now wipes away any refuge things have. They have nowhere to go. Almost everything is gone.
Another amazing insect that I saw in the sand dunes on Corfu was this large sand wasp. I think it is a Bembix species, perhaps bidentata. It rarely settled and it took me ages to get these shots. A fantastic looking thing!
August 16, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Another amazing insect that I saw in the sand dunes on Corfu was this large sand wasp. I think it is a Bembix species, perhaps bidentata. It rarely settled and it took me ages to get these shots. A fantastic looking thing!
Three of the migrant highlights from my Somerset garden moth trap. A darkly coloured Vestal, not a hint of pink on it! A smart White-point, this species is said to potentially be resident but also a known migrant. Small Mottled Willow, showing some intricacy. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
August 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Three of the migrant highlights from my Somerset garden moth trap. A darkly coloured Vestal, not a hint of pink on it! A smart White-point, this species is said to potentially be resident but also a known migrant. Small Mottled Willow, showing some intricacy. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 35 species. Little to get excited about but this nicely marked Catoptria falsella was good to see. Fewer migrants this time too, just: White-point, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
August 14, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Surprisingly poor catch in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. Only 35 species. Little to get excited about but this nicely marked Catoptria falsella was good to see. Fewer migrants this time too, just: White-point, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social #teammoth
Fewer moths than I was hoping for considering the hot conditions. 51 species in my Somerset garden. Orange Swift & Shark nice to see. Signs of migration with White Point, Vestal, Small Mottled Willow, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 12, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Fewer moths than I was hoping for considering the hot conditions. 51 species in my Somerset garden. Orange Swift & Shark nice to see. Signs of migration with White Point, Vestal, Small Mottled Willow, Rush Veneer and Rusty Dot Pearl. #teammoth @migrantmothuk.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
One of the best places I visited in Corfu was the sand dunes at Korission lagoon. They were full of amazing insects. There were grasshoppers everywhere! Photos show: Acrotylus species (digging/banded), Omocestus rufipes (we call it Woodland), Eyprepocnemis plorans (Lamenting).
August 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
One of the best places I visited in Corfu was the sand dunes at Korission lagoon. They were full of amazing insects. There were grasshoppers everywhere! Photos show: Acrotylus species (digging/banded), Omocestus rufipes (we call it Woodland), Eyprepocnemis plorans (Lamenting).
Reposted by Simon Phelps
The long-anticipated first British records of Southern Small White have occurred this summer, with recent sightings from Cleveland and Suffolk:
Southern Small White reaches Britain for first time
Southern Small White has been recorded in Britain for the first time, with sightings in Suffolk and Cleveland in summer 2025. Once confined to southern Europe, the species is expanding rapidly north despite puzzling ecological models. Identification challenges mean more UK records may emerge soon, making this a landmark summer for British butterfly enthusiasts and naturalists alike.
bit.ly
August 4, 2025 at 8:52 AM
The long-anticipated first British records of Southern Small White have occurred this summer, with recent sightings from Cleveland and Suffolk:
Only 34 species in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. The 95 species night in June feels a long time ago now! Marbled Green, Straw Underwing, Buff Footman, Waved Umber the highlights. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social
August 7, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Only 34 species in my Somerset garden moth trap this morning. The 95 species night in June feels a long time ago now! Marbled Green, Straw Underwing, Buff Footman, Waved Umber the highlights. #teammoth @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Right to Roam isn't really about roaming. It's way more fundamental than that. It's a Right to Be. Be what? Be connected, be present, just existing on the land. It is one of the most basic things of all. Yet we're denied it. @righttoroam.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Right to Roam isn't really about roaming. It's way more fundamental than that. It's a Right to Be. Be what? Be connected, be present, just existing on the land. It is one of the most basic things of all. Yet we're denied it. @righttoroam.bsky.social @amyjanebeer.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social
Fantastic news. Something Lepidopterists have been waiting for! Now to try and learn how to identify this species and split from other similar white species!
Congratulations to William Brame @landguardbirder.bsky.social for realising this was a different white butterfly. Now confirmed by @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social as a Southern Small White - the first seen in England. As it is a female let's hope it has been laying eggs. @matthewberry.bsky.social
August 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Fantastic news. Something Lepidopterists have been waiting for! Now to try and learn how to identify this species and split from other similar white species!