Dr David Cockburn
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nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Dr David Cockburn
@nature-in-charge.bsky.social
100 followers 120 following 110 posts
Volunteer ecologist at Broughton Sanctuary and retired geneticist.
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nature-in-charge.bsky.social
I've not found this intriguing one before - but spotted it today on cones under the Scot's Pine in my Leeds garden. The Earpick Fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare) occupies a little niche of its own, feeding on cones, and has a quirky solution to spore dispersal.
#fungifriends @yorkswildlife.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Delighted that a rabbit burrow at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, produced 2 nice finds (6/11/25):
Schistostega pennata - Goblin Gold; with highly reflective protonema, shoots with leaves in 2 ranks and long leaf insertions
@bbsbryology.bsky.social
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November 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
I took a close look at Ground-ivy - Glechoma hederaceae in my Leeds garden and found 3 pathogens:
A leaf gall caused by Rondaniola bursaria, a gall midge larva (family Cecidomyiidae); hairy gall ~3mm high
@bsbibotany.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
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galls on leaf upperside, hairy and ~3mm high galls on leaf upperside, hairy and ~3mm high
October 30, 2025 at 2:34 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
New in my garden and blooming unashamedly this week in disturbed ground is Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum.
#WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Spangle Waxcap in short grassland at Broughton Sanctuary, beautiful texture and colour to the cap and occasional spores have a slight constriction. Top of the stem is not necessarily red.
#WildFungiHour #WildflowerHour
October 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Late for #WildFlowerHour, and late a chance to cross pollinate other plants is this gorgeously defiant Meadowsweet.
Broughton Sanctuary, 30 Sep.
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
October 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Water Chickweed - Stellaria aquatica - brightening up the bed of a former meander of the Afon Llynfi, Powys - not so frequent in Wales. 5 styles, petals deeply bifid and longer than sepals, numerous glandular hairs above, and ovate leaves with cordate base
#wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
New to me: the fascinating Fluted Bird's Nest - Cyathus striatus. Growing in damp wood chip under trees; Talgarth, Powys.
The white epiphragm caught my eye, which has brown hairs. Inner surface of the funnel-shaped peridium (1cm wide) is fluted and has pale egg-shaped peridioles at base.
#fungi
September 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
New find this week was Marsh Stitchwort at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, in wet grassland close to R. Aire. Likely new to hectad, and is serious decline nationality so needs protecting.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
August 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Trying to identify a fine grass in woodland clearing in peaty soil. I think it is Agrostis vinealis but not absolutely sure - A. canina closest alternative?
It seems the best feature is 'obscure' rhizomes (vinealis) vs stolons (canina)...
Thanks if you can help
#WildflowerID @bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 18, 2025 at 10:25 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
A day late posting this group of urban Broad-leaved Helleborines in a Leeds wildlife haven. Right on the edge of a path but staying discrete.
#WildflowerHour #HelleborineChallenge
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 4:50 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
This Myriophyllum flower spike is young, but the bracts look pinnate pointing to M. verticillatum?
Seen in small river at SD95 near Skipton - can anone confirm?
Hopefully the appearance will be more typical once all the flowers are open, plus turions to come...
@bsbibotany.bsky.social #WildflowerID
July 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Hydra spp. are very under-recorded. This brown species is H. vulgaris based mainly on characteristics of 2 of the nematocyst cell types: the stenotele is plump, while the holotrichous isorhiza is relatively slender. The new bud also grows 4 tentacles before others start to grow. Amazing animals!
Bud show 4 equally sized tentacles with 2 young short ones Stenotete Holotrichous isorhiza
June 30, 2025 at 8:30 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Delighted to spot this colourful little moth - Pammene aurita - sheltering from the wind on Tilia tree (while I was putting the recycling out). One of the first records of the year.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Have been trying to decide if this might be nationally scarce Crambus ericella rather than the common C. lathoniellus. Seen late afternoon 9/Jun/2025 Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton at altitude 180m close to moorland. Looks possible do you think @mothiduk.bsky.social?
June 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Looking like hoverfly larva on Scots Pine. Might you recognise this by any chance @geoffwilkinson.bsky.social ?
Many thanks.
Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton; 11 June 2025
June 12, 2025 at 7:34 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Nice symbiotic pact at the expense of Creeping Thistle. Fungus Puccinia punctiformis (smelling of honey), is spread by beetle Ceratapion onopordi when egg-laying. Found likely larvae in base of rotting stem. Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton
@colsocbi.bsky.social #funguifriends
June 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Low evening sun does not help, but wonder if you might be able to shed diagnostic light onto this moorland moth by any chance @mothiduk.bsky.social? Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton; 28/May/2025. Thanks so much.
June 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Two micro moths from marshy grassland/sedge/rush areas. Looks like Bactra lancealana maybe for first. Second, flamboyant in design, is Mompha locupletella.
Broughton Sanctuary; 28 May 2025
@mothiduk.bsky.social
June 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Chuffed to find 3rd longhorn moth species in my Leeds garden. Nematopogon swammerdamella I think (@mothiduk.bsky.social)
alighted on watering can spout. All 3 species associated with leaf litter. This one the least photogenic.
@savebutterflies.bsky.social
May 27, 2025 at 11:28 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Such a smart and remarkable fly - Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana). Here basking on tree base at noon (at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton) females are ovoviviporous and lay only around 5 eggs (each in a different cowpat). The survival rate - egg to adult must near 50%!
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
May 22, 2025 at 1:01 PM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
I'm struggling to pinpoint the identification of this small (8mm) moth from my Leeds garden and wondered if you might be able to recognise
@mothiduk.bsky.social ?
Thanks.
May 22, 2025 at 11:48 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
I saw several flower aberations on Geum rivale this week looking this this. I can't find any pathogens or parasites that would trigger this. Does anyone know? Thanks if you can assist!
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
May 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Gruesome for flies - Entomophthora muscae - a fatal fungal disease - affected flies crawl to tops of plants and die with their wings held out to aid spore dispersal; several seen in vegetation on bank of R. Aire yesterday at Broughton Sanctuary
#FungiFriends @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
May 15, 2025 at 10:58 AM
nature-in-charge.bsky.social
Very happy to find a visitor in my kitchen yesterday, the first record of Clusia flava on iRecord in 2025. Favours rotting wood and damp woodland - chuffed that it likes my garden in Leeds enough to come in and tell me! Thanks @suillia.bsky.social for confirming ID
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 11:04 AM