Mark Nowers
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stuttonsparrows.bsky.social
Mark Nowers
@stuttonsparrows.bsky.social
Birding, nest-recording, moths, nature, countryside.
One of the highlights of the year was having the good people from @btoengland.bsky.social run this nest recording taster day at Flatford back in May. The Reed Bunting nest found was a bonus.
November 1, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
This was recently forwarded to me by
@stuttonsparrows.bsky.social
A brilliant example of woodland creation on a site in Suffolk. It highlights the subsequent management and the positive conservation outcomes it is achieving.
#positiveforestry

farmwildlife.info/2025/10/21/c...
Case Study: Managing Young Farm Woodlands at Sycamore Farm - Farm Wildlife
Managing young farm woodlands for biodiversity, timber quality, and the farm’s long-term value.
farmwildlife.info
October 28, 2025 at 9:28 AM
That pic of the Redwing! Straight off the sea.
Superb day's birding in north Norfolk yesterday with
@fivefootseven.bsky.social, @swallowbirding.bsky.social & @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social - highlights inc. watching Redwing & Fieldfare in/off, super views of Firecrest, 100s of Pink-footed Geese & Golden Plovers, Spoonbill, Peregrine & lots more!
October 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Great day out birding North Norfolk yesterday with @stuttonsparrows.bsky.social @esbr-essex.bsky.social & @fivefootseven.bsky.social Kicked off at Sheringham with LITTLE AUK west, ARCTIC TERN, ARCTIC SKUA, LT DUCK, GANNETS, RAZORBILLS etc #Norfolkbirding #birds #birding #birdsseenin2025
October 25, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Blackberries softening nicely for #moths now. Found this BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING this evening.
August 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Incredible hour checking ivy last night. Recorded 30 species, including 5 I've not encountered on ivy before. That's 93 species since 2013.

Ivy is flipin' amazing!

#moths
August 23, 2025 at 10:03 AM
@mothiduk.bsky.social Sean, any thoughts on this please, from Loch Lomond. Pseudococcyx turionella doesn't feel right, but it's the closest I can get.
July 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Goat v. Leopard #moths
July 1, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Top quality #moths last night.

Peach Blossom the looker, but outdone on the rarity-scale by Bright Wave (netted at dusk by Sam Chamberlin), Shaded Fan-foot and Red-necked Footman.
June 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Last week, the Forester was rediscovered in #Essex. First time since 1974. Keep an eye in flower-rich grassland with Sorrel/Sheep's Sorrel (caterpillar foodplant). Mesmerising emerald green in flight and they do love to perch up! #moths
June 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
SCARLET TIGER

Still rare in #Suffolk. Somehow this one snuck in to the shed next to where the trap was running last night. #Moths
June 14, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
POND GHOSTS & ZOMBIES. A film on our #pond #restoration #Ghostponds work in @uclgeography.bsky.social by RAZOR Science featuring Norfolk Ponds Project, Helen Greaves, myself & many. Pond restoration achieves nature recovery so quickly: youtu.be/SYkbDdaUMBY?...
Bringing 'ghost' and 'zombie' ponds back from the dead
YouTube video by RAZOR Science Show
youtu.be
December 8, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Nest-recording taster day with Lee & Cheryl @btoengland.bsky.social y'day. Finding a Reed Bunting nest brought elation & amazement all-round. Attendees inspired to take new skills forward. Why are there not more naturalists/ecologists doing this?
May 25, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
If anyone tries to convince you that farmers are biodiversity bad guys.. This picture was sent to me today from a really pleased senior member of that community, amazed at the quantity of mining bees in his field edges this year, after we started having a proper look last year.
April 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Natural colonisation of woodland/shrubland at 4, 10 & 29 yrs. Same spot, looking towards ancient woodland seed source 90 m away at Monks Wood Chronosequence.
Still in dynamic change, dense hawthorn & blackthorn thickets are nursery for emerging oaks. Teeming with warblers, soil carbon increasing.
April 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Nice review in today’s Observer

“Looks beyond the usual cliches of country life: An excellent second book, acutely observed, and often very funny”

You can pre-order it here: harpercollins.co.uk/products/unc...
April 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Our clients enjoyed seeing thousands of COMMON CRANES up close and personal during our tour to Sweden. Such photogenic birds! #wildlife #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birds #Sweden #nature
April 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Fancy a free Dawn Chorus walk this Saturday? I'm leading one at Wrabness at 5am. Might see you there?
The 2025 Big County Birdwatch is just two weeks away and we've got a bumper schedule of free to attend guided walks that everyone can join. Full details here: ebws.org.uk/bcbw25
#essexbirding #birds
April 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Slow out the blocks, but here's the first two Lapwing of the season for the @btobirds.bsky.social #NestRecordScheme
March 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Elder is prob the very best cavity-bearing shrub, far better than hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn (very poor). Important nesting shrub for Marsh Tits & Willow Tits, but only if left to develop old trunks and cavities, not cut. Like Hazel, they self-coppice without management, with new growth from base.
March 21, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
PhD opportunity with me (RSPB) at Sheffield Hallam combining ecology (building-nesting birds esp. Swift) + building design & planning (Net Zero goals & retrofit). We need a strong student interested in both! Is that you? url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/cNyjCR636C... Please repost.
March 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Great day at mid-Essex survey area. Highlights, a surprise ♀️Goshawk twice hunting along main wood ride briefly buzzing local Buzzards. Marsh Tit, Brambling and 6 Woodcock also. Nearby, my 2nd ever Otter was also surprise, showing twice at 10 ft range. 6 Snipe….⬇️ 1/2
March 18, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Ringers: what's the bill length of a Starling please?
March 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Good example of why feeding stations on reserves with Willow Tits are a Bad Idea: Willow Tit, Jay & Sparrowhawk attracted to same area by people providing food.

Unfortunately for the Willow Tit, he's the food.

A Willow Tit lost in March/April means the breeding territory fails for the whole year.
Managed to spend a couple of hours at Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve today. Highlights were a superb Male Sparrowhawk and my first ever Willow Tit.
March 16, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Mark Nowers
Nemapogon clematella (Black-barred Fungus Moth) larval silken tubes on Hazel. It's the older (uncoppiced) Hazel trees with standing dead stems that support the Hypoxylon fungus - which in turn support the moths! At least, that's where I'm finding them. #longmelford #suffolk #mothsmatter
March 15, 2025 at 3:17 PM