Mel S-W
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corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Mel S-W
@corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
230 followers 280 following 860 posts
Birder - Plants - Insects - MOTHS & more
Essex - Rye meads volunteer - did I say birds
I am definitely a Biophiliac 🤭
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corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Did my #RyeMeads @rspb.bsky.social #WednesdayWander a walk I guide managed to use a favourite word of mine
Heterophylly
is often witnessed in holly trees, where some leaves are prickly, a defense against herbivores, while others are non-prickly, with smooth margins and no defense at browse height
A green Holly leaf with prickly edges A green Holly leaf ovate smooth with no spiky edges
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Steve well argued … it’s a shame that people still think it’s ok to litter or not recycle everything I actively recycle everything we use & regularly litter pick on our dog walks plus one dog collects her own & has a litter picking hi-vis coat
Dog wearing a pink hi visability coat Cocker spaniel brown & white with a crisp bag in her mouth
November 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Happy Halloween 🎃 back
I was on a Fungi walk yesterday & go shown these Dead man’s fingers very cool & seasonally spooky 👻
Dark brown black appendages erupted from a green moss covered tree stump Close up of the dark brown appendages of Dead man’s fingers fungi on a tree stump Alternative view of the appendages from a tree stump
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Had an amazing #FungiWalk on Tiptree Heath today with #EssexFieldClub the popped to #EssexWildlifeTrust #AbbertonReservoir for some birdwatching bumped into @esbr-essex.bsky.social 👍
Red fungi with white scales in grassland a Fly agaric White table cloth with a vast variety of fungi displayed Tree stump with a purple brain like fungi on a moss covered background Purple jellydisc fungi Green fern covered tree stump with black appendages growing Dead man’s finger fungi
October 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Exciting post delivered today 😍 reading for the darker evenings @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social @vc40orthops.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social @chrismothman.bsky.social
Book green headband with picture of a small horseshoe Ladybird
October 30, 2025 at 5:38 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Along with the amazing fungi the walk started in a farmers field that has had many seed crops mostly Oil seed rape but now interspersed with lots of other wildflowers it is a riot of colour & insects @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @radiolento.bsky.social
Wild radish a straggler of green stems & off white & purple tinged flowers against a backdrop of green leaves Oil seed rape multiple flowers of brilliant yellow with a background of green leaves Lace phacalice a large multi flowers plurple plant against a green background Beautiful purple/blue flowers of Borage against a backdrop of green leaves & stems
October 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
A select few of other fungi seen on this walk it was a great fungi day in both quantity & varieties #EppingForest
Porcelain fungi a shiny umbrella in cream/white growing from a fallen tree branch Dark cream & brown fungi erupting from a fallen branch with a background of green leaves & grasses A large cluster of more flat fungi in cream growing on a fallen tree trunk A large flat off white fungi with raised dots or marks
October 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Had an amazing 🐶 walk Sunday also got to see some awesome fungi in #EppingForest I was really chuffed with some of the iPhone photos @radiolento.bsky.social
Fly agaric fungi Red domed with white flecks against a autumnal coloured leaf background White puffy fungi on a grey brown tree White ribbed underside of a Fly agaric fungi with leaf floor underneath & trees above Beautiful gills of the underside of a Porcelain fungi with moss/lichen covered tree with the tree canopy above
October 21, 2025 at 7:16 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
A few from the VC20 #RyeMeads @rspb.bsky.social on Thursday Orange sallow Green brindled crescent Cypress carpet life ✅ for me & the reserve & Lunar underwing my first trap here without @vickybird.bsky.social she has taught me a lot #teammoth still picking Hornets out
Beautifully marked cream & orange moth on white background Orange sallow moth An amazingly marked moth greens browns blacks on a grey background Green brindled crescent moth An interestingly shaped moth of browns blacks & cream on a grey background Cypress carpet moth Moth with lines & markings like a stain glass window of browns creams & brown Lunar underwing moth
October 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
With a little help & push from @stevedudley.bsky.social 👍 I treated myself to these from @cleyspy.bsky.social & they arrived today just in time for my #WednesdayWander guided walk I lead #RyeMeads @rspbengland.bsky.social to use them in the field so to speak.. Very excited @vickybird.bsky.social
Grey binocular case Black binoculars
September 30, 2025 at 5:53 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Yes closer but not able to get in the fence area but still nice
Concrete large sound mirror in field of dry grass
September 15, 2025 at 5:40 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
A lovely sound mirror in amazing light last night at #KilnseaWetlands @radiolento.bsky.social
Foreground brown wispy grass a large concrete sound mirror with a lovely sky in many blues
September 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
A new fingerpost sign in #EppingForest today I know @radiolento.bsky.social like a sign 🤭
Brown finger post sign in the forest Brown wooded finger post sign in forest
September 9, 2025 at 11:50 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Made the fatal error of getting distracted while emptying the moth trap today #RyeMeads so only got 2 photos (note to self concentrate) could this be Pied Shieldbug Tritomegas bicolor @yvonnecouch.bsky.social @chrismothman.bsky.social also had this Common Burying beetle new for me ✅
Black & white checkerboard round beetle on a blue & white background Black & white beetle on a white & blue background Red & black striped beetle on a white background
September 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Hey guys am I getting too excited could this be Horseshoe ladybird ? On Greater celandine @andrew-jewels.bsky.social @yvonnecouch.bsky.social @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social 🙏
Greater celandine green leaf with insect Greater celandine with tiny insect Green leaf with insect
September 3, 2025 at 10:56 AM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Went to #TherfieldHeath today with friends for Clouded yellow 2 probably 3/4 …Adonis blue (6 at least) Chalkhill blues (6 at least) last two lifers ✅ what a great location I also had 9 lifer ✅ of plants on Chalk grassland @bc hertsmiddx.bsky.social @naturelark.bsky.social
Adonis blue butterfly, vivid blue white edges with black lines on a grass background Chalkhill blue butterfly blue grey wings tipped with white & also black dots on grass background Clustered bellflower small bell shaped purple flowers against a grass background Wild thyme a group of purple flowers on a green stalk
August 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Woohoo I’ve not only managed to have an appropriate photo but also remembered to send it on the right day & time #WildFlowerHour
Green leaves background yellow flowers of Fleabane with as yet unidentified solitary wasp Close up of yellow Fleabane flower with hover fly resting on it
August 10, 2025 at 7:45 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
So my lovely & lucky Sister-in-law found this beautiful even in death male Stag Beetle today in Epping lower forest today having been fortunate to be diverted due to forestry works 😳
I have been actively & concertedly looking for a few years so now need to up my game for next year 🤞
White paper tissue background with a large black beetle with wings open and large pincer type jaws Male Stag beetle Close up of Male Stage Beetle on white tissue background Black/brown body & wing casing
August 7, 2025 at 6:03 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
So after a tip off last night I managed to find a 1st for me female Wasp spider in Epping my home town & this is my 2nd wasp spider in 4 days 😍 @uk-wildlife.bsky.social @andrew-jewels.bsky.social
Large yellow & black striped oval body with eight black& cream striped legs on a web with a white zigzag pattern with green foliage & red & black blackberry Close up view of Wasp spider on white zigzag web large yellow & black striped body & legs
August 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
My 1st #RyeMeads Wasp spider female very exciting @rspb.bsky.social @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @uk-wildlife.bsky.social
Green foliage background with black & yellow colouring long legged (Wasp spider)
August 1, 2025 at 7:09 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
Completed volunteering for the @rspbengland.bsky.social #BigWildSleepout at #RyeMeads my 3rd consecutive year lots of fun great families & enthusiastic children #PondDipping #BatWalk #Mothtrapping fish & chip supper marshmallows & chocolate dip .. Poplar & Elephant Hawkmoths Water scorpions
Large pink & brown Elephant Hawkmoth on a grey egg box background Poplar Hawkmoth subtle greys & brown on a grey egg box with my hand holding it Green bushes & a grey pallet with 4 Poplar Hawkmoth & a Elephant Hawkmoth resting on it A hand with a Poplar Hawkmoth on a finger
July 26, 2025 at 2:54 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
These wonderful photos of the Black crowned night heron at #RyeMeads today by very good friend of mine John Lawrence (credit) it showed very well for a short time it was my first adult of this bird having had a juvenile some years ago @alanharrisbirdart.bsky.social #HertsBirds
Green foliage & brown branches with a Black crowned night heron displaying light grey body & black cap & wings yellow legs & red eye Green bushes green algae & open water with a heron with grey body black cap & wings with red eye & yellow legs Closer view of same heron with a long white crown feather Heron in crouching position
July 22, 2025 at 5:50 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
It was a great day out #EssexBirding I had 71 bird species including 5 year ✅ @essexbirdnews.bsky.social also Wasp spider plus more importantly my first Turtle dove in 8 years & more importantly my first in Essex since childhood 😳
Green & brown background of scrub & brush with a white spider web with a large black & yellow striped spider in the centre A Wasp spider Grey sky background with small & large tree branches with a small cream & black dove Turtle dove
July 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
So was at #RyeMeads @vickybird.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social try for the 3rd year having been unsuccessful then this year BOOM Currant clearwing✅ then 2x Six belted clearwing moths ✅ Lifer alert & thigh rubbing 🥰 yet failed with Red tipped 🤷🏼‍♂️ Wow what a day & Treecreeper #teammoth VC20
A wasp mimic moth with black slim body & horizontal yellow bands with clear wings reminiscent of stained glass windows in a glass test tube … This is a Six (6) belted clearwing moth A wasp mimic moth with clear wings looking like stained glass windows black tail tip with black body & yellow horizontal bands in a glass test tube … This is a Six (6) belted clearwing moth Large wasp mimic a moth with yellow tipped tail various yellow horizontal bands on a brown background A wasp mimic large black antenna yellow tipped tail horizontal yellow bands on a brown background… This is a Currant Clearwing moth
July 10, 2025 at 4:48 PM
corvidcrazychap.bsky.social
I lost my beautiful girl 10 years ago & the pet crematorium did the same so I had it tattooed on my arm so I can touch or see her every day 😍
Human arm with a dog paw print tattoo
July 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM