Jeremy Gaskell
@jeremygaskell.bsky.social
Interested in birds, butterflies, wildflowers, old books, church architecture and local history in East Anglia.
Two of the dozen or so still flowering Small-flowered Catchflies noted along Gorleston cliffs last eve - as well as several soaked in turquoise weed-killer, alas. I have never previously noted a pink one showing 'quinquevulnera' marks.
July 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Two of the dozen or so still flowering Small-flowered Catchflies noted along Gorleston cliffs last eve - as well as several soaked in turquoise weed-killer, alas. I have never previously noted a pink one showing 'quinquevulnera' marks.
Red Bartsia and Marsh Mallow this evening at Minsmere on the Suffolk coast #WildflowerHour
July 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Red Bartsia and Marsh Mallow this evening at Minsmere on the Suffolk coast #WildflowerHour
Common Blue and Wall Butterfly at Lound Lakes ('Nuffolk') today. The latter, a male, showed signs of wear and could have emerged last month - four weeks earlier than the traditional emergence of this species' second brood.
July 8, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Common Blue and Wall Butterfly at Lound Lakes ('Nuffolk') today. The latter, a male, showed signs of wear and could have emerged last month - four weeks earlier than the traditional emergence of this species' second brood.
An enjoyable spell of butterfly watching at Lound Lakes on the county boundary yielded at least 11 species inc. Peacock (3), Red Admiral (6: 4 fresh, 2 faded), Painted Lady (3 sightings of prob one recently emerged), Comma c.12 and Small Tortoiseshell (the attached and one other, battle scarred).
July 7, 2025 at 8:56 PM
An enjoyable spell of butterfly watching at Lound Lakes on the county boundary yielded at least 11 species inc. Peacock (3), Red Admiral (6: 4 fresh, 2 faded), Painted Lady (3 sightings of prob one recently emerged), Comma c.12 and Small Tortoiseshell (the attached and one other, battle scarred).
Norwich Castle and cattle market, circa 1860.
It's difficult, at times, not to be nostalgic (!)
It's difficult, at times, not to be nostalgic (!)
June 28, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Norwich Castle and cattle market, circa 1860.
It's difficult, at times, not to be nostalgic (!)
It's difficult, at times, not to be nostalgic (!)
White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary in N E Norfolk today. A male Gatekeeper at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe was about 10 days earlier than usual.
June 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
White Admiral and Silver-washed Fritillary in N E Norfolk today. A male Gatekeeper at Thorpe-next-Haddiscoe was about 10 days earlier than usual.
On the S Wall of Breydon Water another Painted Lady this evening. At least 16 Mediterranean Gulls, very few waders, one Common Tern, excellent view of hunting Hobby and over N Wall a juv Peregrine 'seeing off' a male Marsh Harrier. Two Egyptian Geese on 'the Lumps' after 8pm were a surprise.
June 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
On the S Wall of Breydon Water another Painted Lady this evening. At least 16 Mediterranean Gulls, very few waders, one Common Tern, excellent view of hunting Hobby and over N Wall a juv Peregrine 'seeing off' a male Marsh Harrier. Two Egyptian Geese on 'the Lumps' after 8pm were a surprise.
Perhaps on account of the dry spring, the flowers of some Pyramidal Orchids are scarcely larger than a thumbnail; a dozy Tree Bumblebee B. hypnorum, a recent colonist, allowed a close approach last evening.
June 16, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Perhaps on account of the dry spring, the flowers of some Pyramidal Orchids are scarcely larger than a thumbnail; a dozy Tree Bumblebee B. hypnorum, a recent colonist, allowed a close approach last evening.
This has got me foxed so confirmation or correction welcome #wildflowerhour - my best guess is a dwarf form of Common Cudweed: it is at home in the narrow gaps between cobblestones long with small Buck's-horn Plantains.
June 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
This has got me foxed so confirmation or correction welcome #wildflowerhour - my best guess is a dwarf form of Common Cudweed: it is at home in the narrow gaps between cobblestones long with small Buck's-horn Plantains.
Cut-leaved Cranesbill and Tutsan near the Norfolk - Suffolk county boundary this evening #wildflowerhour
June 15, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Cut-leaved Cranesbill and Tutsan near the Norfolk - Suffolk county boundary this evening #wildflowerhour
Two of three Painted Ladies encountered on Breydon S Wall near Humberstone Farm 1915hrs-2000hrs this evening. The fresher of the two chased off all winged intruders.
June 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Two of three Painted Ladies encountered on Breydon S Wall near Humberstone Farm 1915hrs-2000hrs this evening. The fresher of the two chased off all winged intruders.
A rather striking Grey Squirrel enjoying a 'freebie' after hours at Minsmere RSPB - do we know if this 'morph' occurs in the wild in N. America?
June 13, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A rather striking Grey Squirrel enjoying a 'freebie' after hours at Minsmere RSPB - do we know if this 'morph' occurs in the wild in N. America?
A piece of Jet found on the North Denes, Great Yarmouth, perhaps washed down from NE England. One or two specks of quartz-like material, conspicuous in bright sunlight, can just be made out.
June 11, 2025 at 10:52 PM
A piece of Jet found on the North Denes, Great Yarmouth, perhaps washed down from NE England. One or two specks of quartz-like material, conspicuous in bright sunlight, can just be made out.
Painted Lady - not much bigger than a Wall butterfly, so presumed male, slightly worn - nr Breydon Water this afternoon.
June 9, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Painted Lady - not much bigger than a Wall butterfly, so presumed male, slightly worn - nr Breydon Water this afternoon.
@matone972.bsky.social
This one foxed Seek which would only say 'Mustard family'.
Have just sent it to county recorder to confirm id as Hoary Stock. V. few Norfolk records even as a garden 'throw-out'.
This one foxed Seek which would only say 'Mustard family'.
Have just sent it to county recorder to confirm id as Hoary Stock. V. few Norfolk records even as a garden 'throw-out'.
June 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
@matone972.bsky.social
This one foxed Seek which would only say 'Mustard family'.
Have just sent it to county recorder to confirm id as Hoary Stock. V. few Norfolk records even as a garden 'throw-out'.
This one foxed Seek which would only say 'Mustard family'.
Have just sent it to county recorder to confirm id as Hoary Stock. V. few Norfolk records even as a garden 'throw-out'.
@jo-the-botanist.bsky.social
Hello Jo - I spotted the attached yesterday just 50m from my front door on a patch of uncultivated ground. Leaves of of Matthiola incana (Rose & O'Reilly p. 209) seem slightly different, so would be grateful for confirmation of correct id. Hope all is well, Jeremy
Hello Jo - I spotted the attached yesterday just 50m from my front door on a patch of uncultivated ground. Leaves of of Matthiola incana (Rose & O'Reilly p. 209) seem slightly different, so would be grateful for confirmation of correct id. Hope all is well, Jeremy
June 4, 2025 at 8:17 AM
@jo-the-botanist.bsky.social
Hello Jo - I spotted the attached yesterday just 50m from my front door on a patch of uncultivated ground. Leaves of of Matthiola incana (Rose & O'Reilly p. 209) seem slightly different, so would be grateful for confirmation of correct id. Hope all is well, Jeremy
Hello Jo - I spotted the attached yesterday just 50m from my front door on a patch of uncultivated ground. Leaves of of Matthiola incana (Rose & O'Reilly p. 209) seem slightly different, so would be grateful for confirmation of correct id. Hope all is well, Jeremy
Mating Small Blues and an unwelcome intruder in W. Norfolk today; an unannounced visitor in the form of one of the four difficult to distinguish species of Snakefly.
June 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Mating Small Blues and an unwelcome intruder in W. Norfolk today; an unannounced visitor in the form of one of the four difficult to distinguish species of Snakefly.
Norfolk non-natives - but always good to encounter: Sweet Cicely(I can still smell the aniseed!) and Bloody Cranesbill #wildflowerhourBSBI
May 25, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Norfolk non-natives - but always good to encounter: Sweet Cicely(I can still smell the aniseed!) and Bloody Cranesbill #wildflowerhourBSBI
A Small Tortoiseshell which I rescued last Sunday from inside the quaint church at Burgh Saint Peter opposite Carlton Marshes - a Peacock butterfly was lying dead close by. Sunshine helped the Tortoiseshell to revive. Hopefully it had strength enough to get through till morning.
May 16, 2025 at 6:54 PM
A Small Tortoiseshell which I rescued last Sunday from inside the quaint church at Burgh Saint Peter opposite Carlton Marshes - a Peacock butterfly was lying dead close by. Sunshine helped the Tortoiseshell to revive. Hopefully it had strength enough to get through till morning.
Interesting plants encountered during a visit to three Suffolk churches with the Roundtower Society at the weekend: last year's remains of the very local Small Teasel at Mettlingham, and the locally common Meadow Saxifrage at Barsham.
May 12, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Interesting plants encountered during a visit to three Suffolk churches with the Roundtower Society at the weekend: last year's remains of the very local Small Teasel at Mettlingham, and the locally common Meadow Saxifrage at Barsham.
A solitary Green-winged Orchid in N. Suffolk this evening.
May 8, 2025 at 7:36 PM
A solitary Green-winged Orchid in N. Suffolk this evening.
The Pasqueflower spectacle near Therfield is over for another year tho' individual flowers still bloom; small numbers of Marsh Fritillaries on the downs near the Wansdyke this weekend were my first, excluding unauthorised introduced stock in Suffolk,since the early 1970s.
May 5, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The Pasqueflower spectacle near Therfield is over for another year tho' individual flowers still bloom; small numbers of Marsh Fritillaries on the downs near the Wansdyke this weekend were my first, excluding unauthorised introduced stock in Suffolk,since the early 1970s.
In the Norfolk/Suffolk 'marches': the lovely Crimson Clover, said to have been introduced as a 19th C 'fodder crop', and a well-advanced specimen of the charming Crosswort #wildflowerhourBSBI
April 27, 2025 at 8:08 PM
In the Norfolk/Suffolk 'marches': the lovely Crimson Clover, said to have been introduced as a 19th C 'fodder crop', and a well-advanced specimen of the charming Crosswort #wildflowerhourBSBI
A thumb-sized Early Purple Orchid on the Norfolk-Suffolk county boundary 14th April, one of nine found. Hopefully today's rain will enable others to flourish.
April 15, 2025 at 10:22 AM
A thumb-sized Early Purple Orchid on the Norfolk-Suffolk county boundary 14th April, one of nine found. Hopefully today's rain will enable others to flourish.
A trio of Whimbrel at the eastern end of Breydon Water this evening. Eight other wader species present on the flats, including 6 'tundrae' Ringed Plover.
April 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
A trio of Whimbrel at the eastern end of Breydon Water this evening. Eight other wader species present on the flats, including 6 'tundrae' Ringed Plover.