@benjmatkinson.bsky.social
Lyscombe ranger for Dorset Wildlife Trust (views on here are my own). Interested in all things nature conservation, but especially birds, botany, butterflies, coppicing and rewilding.
Some fantastic fungi have appeared at Lyscombe recently.
White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Some fantastic fungi have appeared at Lyscombe recently.
White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
White coral, masses of honey fungus, fairy ink-caps and the gorgeous coloured, and quite rare, splendid waxcap!
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Nice to see a family group of spotted flycatchers at Lyscombe on Friday. There were two wheatear hanging out on site this week as well. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
August 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Nice to see a family group of spotted flycatchers at Lyscombe on Friday. There were two wheatear hanging out on site this week as well. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Not as pretty, but just as crucial. The cattle also create bare ground. Great for insects like mining bees and butterflies, and ideal for wildflowers to germinate in.
Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
July 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Not as pretty, but just as crucial. The cattle also create bare ground. Great for insects like mining bees and butterflies, and ideal for wildflowers to germinate in.
Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
Those cow pats are important too. Full of dung beetles which are food for things like bats, hedgehogs and birds.
They still have plenty of work to do munching away on the SSSI, but the downland is already benefitting from their grazing. Plenty of wildflowers amongst the grasses.
July 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
They still have plenty of work to do munching away on the SSSI, but the downland is already benefitting from their grazing. Plenty of wildflowers amongst the grasses.
The Lyscombe longhorns keeping cool in the shade this week
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
July 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM
The Lyscombe longhorns keeping cool in the shade this week
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Chocks away! A day of drone flying at Lyscombe today. Getting some footage to showcase the reserve and help illustrate our plans for the site.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
July 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Chocks away! A day of drone flying at Lyscombe today. Getting some footage to showcase the reserve and help illustrate our plans for the site.
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
A pair of small blues seen mating yesterday at Lyscombe. A potential second brood in a few weeks time?
Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 9:41 PM
A pair of small blues seen mating yesterday at Lyscombe. A potential second brood in a few weeks time?
Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
Exciting to find this species already doing well on the reserve, suitable habitat will increase significantly over the coming years 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A small skipper nectaring on rough hawkbit today at Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
June 19, 2025 at 6:59 PM
A small skipper nectaring on rough hawkbit today at Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A good moth trap at Lyscombe this week. Some nice finds including a grass rivulet, a rare moth in Dorset whose larvae feed on the seed capsules of yellow rattle. 3 hawk-moths elephant, small elephant and privet 🙂@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
June 13, 2025 at 9:18 AM
A good moth trap at Lyscombe this week. Some nice finds including a grass rivulet, a rare moth in Dorset whose larvae feed on the seed capsules of yellow rattle. 3 hawk-moths elephant, small elephant and privet 🙂@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetmoths.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
This moth is proving tricky to ID. Dog's tooth, dusky brocade, alder moth?! Anyone got a suggestion?
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
June 10, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This moth is proving tricky to ID. Dog's tooth, dusky brocade, alder moth?! Anyone got a suggestion?
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social
I was priveleged to see this calf born last week at Lyscombe.
Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I was priveleged to see this calf born last week at Lyscombe.
Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Longhorn's are known for being easy calvers and this first time mum was no exception. Looking forward to seeing this and the other calves grow up and enjoy exploring Lyscombe. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
A short visit to @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Higer Hyde Heath today. Very pleased to see a couple of silver-studded blues, sand lizards a smooth snake and a hairy rove beetle!
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
May 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
A short visit to @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Higer Hyde Heath today. Very pleased to see a couple of silver-studded blues, sand lizards a smooth snake and a hairy rove beetle!
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
A beautiful day in the sunshine at Lyscombe. Great to spot a green hairstreak, lots of dingy skippers too. Early purple orchids flowering, wild garlic and a spotted flycatcher 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
April 29, 2025 at 5:06 PM
A beautiful day in the sunshine at Lyscombe. Great to spot a green hairstreak, lots of dingy skippers too. Early purple orchids flowering, wild garlic and a spotted flycatcher 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
Bluebells under the oaks at Lyscombe today 🙂
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Bluebells under the oaks at Lyscombe today 🙂
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Some early spider orchids from Dancing ledge on the Dorset coast at the end of March. There will be loads more flowering by now I'm sure. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
April 8, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Some early spider orchids from Dancing ledge on the Dorset coast at the end of March. There will be loads more flowering by now I'm sure. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social
Delighted to find this female black redstart hanging out at Lyscombe chapel this afternoon 😀 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
April 7, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Delighted to find this female black redstart hanging out at Lyscombe chapel this afternoon 😀 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Bluebells and blue turkey tails at Lyscombe today 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Bluebells and blue turkey tails at Lyscombe today 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Found this today at Lyscombe, initially thought lesser stag beetle but on second glance could it be a female stag? Red tinge to the elytra @coleopsoc.bsky.social @brianecambs.bsky.social
March 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Found this today at Lyscombe, initially thought lesser stag beetle but on second glance could it be a female stag? Red tinge to the elytra @coleopsoc.bsky.social @brianecambs.bsky.social
People and wildlife busy at Lyscombe today! Walkers passing through on a long distance challenge event. Violet oil beetles laying eggs and marsh marigolds flowering, with greenfinch, skylark and chiffchaff singing 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
March 23, 2025 at 12:41 PM
People and wildlife busy at Lyscombe today! Walkers passing through on a long distance challenge event. Violet oil beetles laying eggs and marsh marigolds flowering, with greenfinch, skylark and chiffchaff singing 😀
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social
The first early dog-violets of the year flowering amongst a sea of primroses at Lyscombe 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
March 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The first early dog-violets of the year flowering amongst a sea of primroses at Lyscombe 😀 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetflora.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social
A few things from last week at Lyscombe. Longhorns, first oil beetle of the year, amazing standing dead wood and glorious snowdrops 🙂 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
March 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
A few things from last week at Lyscombe. Longhorns, first oil beetle of the year, amazing standing dead wood and glorious snowdrops 🙂 @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Snowdrops looking beautiful in the winter sun at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Lyscombe nature reserve 🙂
February 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Snowdrops looking beautiful in the winter sun at @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Lyscombe nature reserve 🙂
Wonderful to see this barn owl at Lyscombe last week. They are becoming a fairly regular sighting here 🙂 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
February 7, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Wonderful to see this barn owl at Lyscombe last week. They are becoming a fairly regular sighting here 🙂 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
These 12 are just the start of the Lyscombe herd. Numbers will increase in time as more of the site is fenced. Eventually the hope is to have a large breeding herd (maybe 100+) free to roam and graze over the whole 335ha of the site.
Exciting times! 😀
Exciting times! 😀
December 16, 2024 at 6:46 PM
These 12 are just the start of the Lyscombe herd. Numbers will increase in time as more of the site is fenced. Eventually the hope is to have a large breeding herd (maybe 100+) free to roam and graze over the whole 335ha of the site.
Exciting times! 😀
Exciting times! 😀
The SSSI area at Lyscombe is in desperate need of grazing so they will be kept on there for the foreseeable. Starting in a smaller compartment, then given access to larger areas as more new fencing is completed, around 60ha in total.
December 16, 2024 at 6:46 PM
The SSSI area at Lyscombe is in desperate need of grazing so they will be kept on there for the foreseeable. Starting in a smaller compartment, then given access to larger areas as more new fencing is completed, around 60ha in total.