Justin Walker
@arcanelove.bsky.social
Field ornithologist, amateur entomologist, Norfolk heteroptera recorder; enjoys the company of trees, picks litter, runs.
Quite a few flowering Brambles in Thetford at the weekend. I'd be very happy to have more blackberries but I fear that, while pollination might not be a problem, ripening any fruit might well be.
October 14, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Quite a few flowering Brambles in Thetford at the weekend. I'd be very happy to have more blackberries but I fear that, while pollination might not be a problem, ripening any fruit might well be.
A pencil thick young Grass Snake in the garden this afternoon, presumably quite active given it hit 20°C in Thetford today.
October 6, 2025 at 9:36 PM
A pencil thick young Grass Snake in the garden this afternoon, presumably quite active given it hit 20°C in Thetford today.
Just one Willow Warbler among 25 Chiffchaffs ringed at @btobirds.bsky.social #NunneryLakes yesterday. Sadly, now an uncommon species here outside of Thetford and King’s Forests. What are we doing to our world?
September 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Just one Willow Warbler among 25 Chiffchaffs ringed at @btobirds.bsky.social #NunneryLakes yesterday. Sadly, now an uncommon species here outside of Thetford and King’s Forests. What are we doing to our world?
This isn’t a test! The #ClimateEmergency is already impacting the lives of millions globally and unless necessary change is immediately made the situation will threaten life on Earth.
September 7, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This isn’t a test! The #ClimateEmergency is already impacting the lives of millions globally and unless necessary change is immediately made the situation will threaten life on Earth.
I wasn't entirely sure if these are dog toys or stress relief for their owners. Apparently, much like reality, Elon was quite unpopular.
August 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I wasn't entirely sure if these are dog toys or stress relief for their owners. Apparently, much like reality, Elon was quite unpopular.
Sorry Rob, I've been off Bsky for a while, mostly due to hand surgery badly timed for the best part of summer. Here is S. morio from @btobirds.bsky.social #NunneryLakes last weekend; length 8.2mm, membrane pale and rostrum beyond middle coxae; from Green Alkanet. My 3rd local record.
August 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Sorry Rob, I've been off Bsky for a while, mostly due to hand surgery badly timed for the best part of summer. Here is S. morio from @btobirds.bsky.social #NunneryLakes last weekend; length 8.2mm, membrane pale and rostrum beyond middle coxae; from Green Alkanet. My 3rd local record.
In West Suffolk Hospital at Bury St. Edmunds waiting for surgery to fix my disfigured left hand. Last bird seen was a confiding male Blackbird collecting food in the grounds.
June 2, 2025 at 11:51 AM
In West Suffolk Hospital at Bury St. Edmunds waiting for surgery to fix my disfigured left hand. Last bird seen was a confiding male Blackbird collecting food in the grounds.
Tawny Wave and a male Fox Moth were the best from my Thetford Actinic yesterday. Elephant Hawk-moths and Buff-tip are always nice to see.
June 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Tawny Wave and a male Fox Moth were the best from my Thetford Actinic yesterday. Elephant Hawk-moths and Buff-tip are always nice to see.
A couple of bugs from the Stansted Estate in West Sussex. The plant bug Dicyphus globulifer, second West Sussex record according to iRecord, no records on the NBN Atlas; and Spear Thistle Lacebug Tingis cardui, also not frequently recorded in the VC, but a species I often find in Norfolk.
May 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
A couple of bugs from the Stansted Estate in West Sussex. The plant bug Dicyphus globulifer, second West Sussex record according to iRecord, no records on the NBN Atlas; and Spear Thistle Lacebug Tingis cardui, also not frequently recorded in the VC, but a species I often find in Norfolk.
Back in Norfolk now but nice to have found two nationally scarce beetles yesterday, on the Stansted Estate in West Sussex; the fungus weevil Platystomos albinus and the false blister beetle Oedemera femoralis. Both species being new for the 10 km square according to the NBN Atlas.
May 4, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Back in Norfolk now but nice to have found two nationally scarce beetles yesterday, on the Stansted Estate in West Sussex; the fungus weevil Platystomos albinus and the false blister beetle Oedemera femoralis. Both species being new for the 10 km square according to the NBN Atlas.
This morning was about butterflies. No Woodlark on my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathlands Bird Survey at Oxenbourne Down in @southdownsnp.bsky.social, but it was fantastic to see Duke of Burgandy for the first time as well as Dingy and Grizzled Skippers and Small Heath. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
May 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This morning was about butterflies. No Woodlark on my @btobirds.bsky.social Heathlands Bird Survey at Oxenbourne Down in @southdownsnp.bsky.social, but it was fantastic to see Duke of Burgandy for the first time as well as Dingy and Grizzled Skippers and Small Heath. @savebutterflies.bsky.social
I think they came from Home Bargains, cheapies but they seem to do the trick. The poor bees are plagued by Cacoxenus indagator aka the Houdini Fly.
May 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM
I think they came from Home Bargains, cheapies but they seem to do the trick. The poor bees are plagued by Cacoxenus indagator aka the Houdini Fly.
These bee boxes were installed on Monday and already have eleven tubes blocked up. Potential occupants were investigating the options as I was lining up the boxes before drilling holes in the wall. #instantimpact for #pollinators!
May 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
These bee boxes were installed on Monday and already have eleven tubes blocked up. Potential occupants were investigating the options as I was lining up the boxes before drilling holes in the wall. #instantimpact for #pollinators!
Nice to be back in Hampshire for the weekend. Here's a view from Butser Hill in the @southdownsnp.bsky.social looking towards the south coast and the Isle of Wight.
May 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Nice to be back in Hampshire for the weekend. Here's a view from Butser Hill in the @southdownsnp.bsky.social looking towards the south coast and the Isle of Wight.
Naturalised non-natives I know, but Mandarin Ducks are smart looking birds. At @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes this evening.
April 28, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Naturalised non-natives I know, but Mandarin Ducks are smart looking birds. At @btobirds.bsky.social Nunnery Lakes this evening.
Sad to find a discarded plastic bag full of water and numerous invertebrates at a popular duck-feeding spot on the Hampshire coast last month. This male Pachygnatha clercki spider and a few small Carabid beetles survived but many others didn't. What are we doing to this world!
April 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sad to find a discarded plastic bag full of water and numerous invertebrates at a popular duck-feeding spot on the Hampshire coast last month. This male Pachygnatha clercki spider and a few small Carabid beetles survived but many others didn't. What are we doing to this world!
The nationally scarce darkling beetle Helops caeruleus from Hampshire last month. A very nice insect to stumble across.
April 23, 2025 at 8:40 PM
The nationally scarce darkling beetle Helops caeruleus from Hampshire last month. A very nice insect to stumble across.
Weekend spiders. The Humped Orbweaver Gibbaranea gibbous and the always photogenic Gorse Orbweaver Agalenatea redii.
April 8, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Weekend spiders. The Humped Orbweaver Gibbaranea gibbous and the always photogenic Gorse Orbweaver Agalenatea redii.
Well, it's Oak before Ash where I was in Norfolk on Saturday. Given we're in for another dry week, I wonder when the next rain will fall on what seems to be an already very dry landscape.
April 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Well, it's Oak before Ash where I was in Norfolk on Saturday. Given we're in for another dry week, I wonder when the next rain will fall on what seems to be an already very dry landscape.
Lunchtime inverts: Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina and Bristly Millipede Polyxenus lagurus enjoying some welcome springtime warmth in Thetford.
April 4, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Lunchtime inverts: Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina and Bristly Millipede Polyxenus lagurus enjoying some welcome springtime warmth in Thetford.
Mediterranean Gulls on Hayling Island Oysterbeds at the end of March in 2022, and today in 2025. Yes, just one bird, plus a few more flying around. Significantly fewer Black-headed gulls too. #solentbirds
March 29, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Mediterranean Gulls on Hayling Island Oysterbeds at the end of March in 2022, and today in 2025. Yes, just one bird, plus a few more flying around. Significantly fewer Black-headed gulls too. #solentbirds
Living in Norfolk it made a change to see Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor in Hampshire this morning; the species has yet to make it across the border from Suffolk.
March 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Living in Norfolk it made a change to see Dotted Bee-fly Bombylius discolor in Hampshire this morning; the species has yet to make it across the border from Suffolk.
Covered a @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey square in Hampshire for Woodlark today. Included a lovely site I've not visited since a school field trip in the 1980s. No Woodlark but nice to have close views of a pair of Firecrests. Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, and Peacock all on the wing.
March 29, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Covered a @btobirds.bsky.social Heathland Bird Survey square in Hampshire for Woodlark today. Included a lovely site I've not visited since a school field trip in the 1980s. No Woodlark but nice to have close views of a pair of Firecrests. Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, and Peacock all on the wing.
Short and slightly soggy run in the South Downs this morning and signs of spring are everywhere. Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, budding Bluebells, Violets, Primroses and Wild Garlic. A great start to a long weekend in Hampshire.
March 28, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Short and slightly soggy run in the South Downs this morning and signs of spring are everywhere. Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, budding Bluebells, Violets, Primroses and Wild Garlic. A great start to a long weekend in Hampshire.