Harry Witts
@hwitts.bsky.social
Hull/London ecologist, entomologist, birder
@andymus.bsky.social Hi Andy, could Guanchia (Forficula) pubescens and Cybocephalus nipponicus be added to PSL please? Both have been discovered a couple of years ago but not sure if they’ve been written up yet/guess there’re not in UKSI. Found em with Tristan Bantock and Joss Carr at Olympic Park
September 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
@andymus.bsky.social Hi Andy, could Guanchia (Forficula) pubescens and Cybocephalus nipponicus be added to PSL please? Both have been discovered a couple of years ago but not sure if they’ve been written up yet/guess there’re not in UKSI. Found em with Tristan Bantock and Joss Carr at Olympic Park
Reposted by Harry Witts
'An urban rewilding group is seeking the public’s views on the potential return of white storks to London as part of a project to see if the birds could make a home in the capital.'
Survey link here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brighton/t...
Survey link here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brighton/t...
Rewilding group to assess possible return of white storks to London
Citizen Zoo to map habitats in the capital and consult boroughs and the public about reintroduction of the birds
www.theguardian.com
August 5, 2025 at 7:01 AM
'An urban rewilding group is seeking the public’s views on the potential return of white storks to London as part of a project to see if the birds could make a home in the capital.'
Survey link here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brighton/t...
Survey link here: app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/brighton/t...
Reposted by Harry Witts
The current position of Natural England is that (re)introduction of White Storks should not be supported. Evidence for their historical presence here is sketchy and it is difficult to rule out historical remains as not pertaining to regular vagrancy. Cultural evidence is weak at best #UKbirding 1/2
August 5, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The current position of Natural England is that (re)introduction of White Storks should not be supported. Evidence for their historical presence here is sketchy and it is difficult to rule out historical remains as not pertaining to regular vagrancy. Cultural evidence is weak at best #UKbirding 1/2
@britishbugs.bsky.social Hi Tristan, what’s this shieldbug nymph please? Swept a few from a ruderal site in Essex. I’m wondering about both Peribalus strictus and Neottiglossa pusilla
July 29, 2025 at 6:48 PM
@britishbugs.bsky.social Hi Tristan, what’s this shieldbug nymph please? Swept a few from a ruderal site in Essex. I’m wondering about both Peribalus strictus and Neottiglossa pusilla
@britishbugs.bsky.social Hi Tristan, can Stictopleurus punctatonervosus have an unbanded connexivum like this please?
July 11, 2025 at 4:28 PM
@britishbugs.bsky.social Hi Tristan, can Stictopleurus punctatonervosus have an unbanded connexivum like this please?
The other week saw me locate Attulus distinguendus at West Thurrock at the second time of asking - I watched it hunting from the tops of rocks protruding from ash for half an hour while I played it England’s first test victory
July 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
The other week saw me locate Attulus distinguendus at West Thurrock at the second time of asking - I watched it hunting from the tops of rocks protruding from ash for half an hour while I played it England’s first test victory
Netted Pug found my Hackney trap last night, probably dispersing from the chalk around Hertford, more than ten miles away @wlangdon12.bsky.social
#teammoth
#teammoth
June 20, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Netted Pug found my Hackney trap last night, probably dispersing from the chalk around Hertford, more than ten miles away @wlangdon12.bsky.social
#teammoth
#teammoth
Reposted by Harry Witts
1/6) New paper out in Molecular Ecology! We uncover the intriguing biogeographic history behind the Holarctic disjunct distributions in Vanessa butterflies. @phylomigrationlab.bsky.social
#biogeography #insectmigration #butterflymigration #butterflies #evolution
shorturl.at/UFrrU
#biogeography #insectmigration #butterflymigration #butterflies #evolution
shorturl.at/UFrrU
May 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
1/6) New paper out in Molecular Ecology! We uncover the intriguing biogeographic history behind the Holarctic disjunct distributions in Vanessa butterflies. @phylomigrationlab.bsky.social
#biogeography #insectmigration #butterflymigration #butterflies #evolution
shorturl.at/UFrrU
#biogeography #insectmigration #butterflymigration #butterflies #evolution
shorturl.at/UFrrU
This species is very common in Bialowieza, Poland. The males fly around like madmen like Emperors do back home but finally cold weather and sun yesterday allowed me to see one stationary! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social
May 8, 2025 at 4:16 AM
This species is very common in Bialowieza, Poland. The males fly around like madmen like Emperors do back home but finally cold weather and sun yesterday allowed me to see one stationary! @richardkbroughton.bsky.social
Reposted by Harry Witts
Lifelong ambition realised when I *finally* saw Wolves. And my camera was in my backpack. Record shots, but the views beforehand were crippling as three adults walked through the forest at ~50 m distance. One stopped to stare at me & @hwitts.bsky.social for a good 5 seconds. #Białowieża Nat. Park.
May 7, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Lifelong ambition realised when I *finally* saw Wolves. And my camera was in my backpack. Record shots, but the views beforehand were crippling as three adults walked through the forest at ~50 m distance. One stopped to stare at me & @hwitts.bsky.social for a good 5 seconds. #Białowieża Nat. Park.
Spent days unsuccessfully checking early-flowering blossom in Hackney trying to find Osmia cornuta but instead find one cowering on the pavement in a rainstorm! Very happy to have finally connected with this new colonist
March 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Spent days unsuccessfully checking early-flowering blossom in Hackney trying to find Osmia cornuta but instead find one cowering on the pavement in a rainstorm! Very happy to have finally connected with this new colonist
Reposted by Harry Witts
On 6 March Jon Leysell found Oxycarenus lavaterae in Lime Trees in Shoeburyness, Essex TQ92838660 (the 3rd UK and 1st Essex record). I took these photos on 8 March.
March 10, 2025 at 11:10 AM
On 6 March Jon Leysell found Oxycarenus lavaterae in Lime Trees in Shoeburyness, Essex TQ92838660 (the 3rd UK and 1st Essex record). I took these photos on 8 March.
Reposted by Harry Witts
New paper in Conservation Evidence Journal:
Sampling of red grouse carcasses in Britain indicates no progress during an intended five-year voluntary transition from lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition
conservationevidencejournal.com/reference/pd...
Sampling of red grouse carcasses in Britain indicates no progress during an intended five-year voluntary transition from lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition
conservationevidencejournal.com/reference/pd...
February 6, 2025 at 11:48 AM
New paper in Conservation Evidence Journal:
Sampling of red grouse carcasses in Britain indicates no progress during an intended five-year voluntary transition from lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition
conservationevidencejournal.com/reference/pd...
Sampling of red grouse carcasses in Britain indicates no progress during an intended five-year voluntary transition from lead to non-lead shotgun ammunition
conservationevidencejournal.com/reference/pd...
Reposted by Harry Witts
⏰New Research ⏰
We quantified the direct impact of diversionary feeding on capercaillie productivity. We show an increase in the proportion of hen with a brood in DF sites (37% -> 85%) and, as a result, a 131% increase in chicks per hen. Read more here: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
1/7
We quantified the direct impact of diversionary feeding on capercaillie productivity. We show an increase in the proportion of hen with a brood in DF sites (37% -> 85%) and, as a result, a 131% increase in chicks per hen. Read more here: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
1/7
December 14, 2024 at 4:43 PM
⏰New Research ⏰
We quantified the direct impact of diversionary feeding on capercaillie productivity. We show an increase in the proportion of hen with a brood in DF sites (37% -> 85%) and, as a result, a 131% increase in chicks per hen. Read more here: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
1/7
We quantified the direct impact of diversionary feeding on capercaillie productivity. We show an increase in the proportion of hen with a brood in DF sites (37% -> 85%) and, as a result, a 131% increase in chicks per hen. Read more here: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
1/7
Black-throated and Great Northern Divers on south basin, also Scaup, Little Gull and 3 BN Grebe. KGV Res @birdguides.bsky.social
December 14, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Black-throated and Great Northern Divers on south basin, also Scaup, Little Gull and 3 BN Grebe. KGV Res @birdguides.bsky.social
It’s not a Levant Blackneck but very happy to have my first ever Small Mottled Willow to my Clapton, London trap overnight @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 8:45 AM
It’s not a Levant Blackneck but very happy to have my first ever Small Mottled Willow to my Clapton, London trap overnight @migrantmothuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Harry Witts
ICYMI-
"Fatal Attraction: Argiope Spiders Lure Male Hemileuca Moth Prey with the Promise of Sex"
Here are the results of 5 summers of research on this fascinating topic:
www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15...
"Fatal Attraction: Argiope Spiders Lure Male Hemileuca Moth Prey with the Promise of Sex"
Here are the results of 5 summers of research on this fascinating topic:
www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15...
November 29, 2024 at 3:50 PM
ICYMI-
"Fatal Attraction: Argiope Spiders Lure Male Hemileuca Moth Prey with the Promise of Sex"
Here are the results of 5 summers of research on this fascinating topic:
www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15...
"Fatal Attraction: Argiope Spiders Lure Male Hemileuca Moth Prey with the Promise of Sex"
Here are the results of 5 summers of research on this fascinating topic:
www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15...
Canvasback east of Layer Breton until flew east over Layer de la Haye c.3pm. Also 6 Black-necked Grebe at Billets Farm screen and one more west of LDH. Abberton. @birdguides.bsky.social
November 30, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Canvasback east of Layer Breton until flew east over Layer de la Haye c.3pm. Also 6 Black-necked Grebe at Billets Farm screen and one more west of LDH. Abberton. @birdguides.bsky.social
Reposted by Harry Witts
Paper just out by Spanish conservation biologists voicing similar concerns conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🌍🌐 not #rewilding
November 26, 2024 at 7:18 PM
Paper just out by Spanish conservation biologists voicing similar concerns conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... 🌍🌐 not #rewilding
Wrinkled Webcap Cortinarius lividoochraceus, I believe, from a couple of visits to Epping Forest recently, one of the few fungi fruiting in dry conditions
November 19, 2024 at 7:48 PM
Wrinkled Webcap Cortinarius lividoochraceus, I believe, from a couple of visits to Epping Forest recently, one of the few fungi fruiting in dry conditions