Scott Shanks
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scottshanks.bsky.social
Scott Shanks
@scottshanks.bsky.social
490 followers 770 following 74 posts
Professional nature botherer💚 Planning, Peatlands, Pollinators & other wee beasties. Ecologist, Biochemist, Bog-trotter, Geek. Based in Moray, Scotland. All own views.
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Reposted by Scott Shanks
rspbscotland.bsky.social
Scotland's swifts are in freefall. They need action now.

Yesterday, @scotgov said Swift Bricks don't belong in the Natural Environment Bill. We disagree.

There's still time to back Swift Bricks - email your MSPs now: action.rspb.org.uk/page/181323/...
A close up photo of a Swift's face against a black background
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for this week’s #Wildflowerhour.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Common Daisy, Fiddleneck, Yarrow, Red Campion. Feverfew, Common Ragwort, White Clover, Red Clover & Viper’s Bugloss.
November 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
suillia.bsky.social
My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife
A female Snow Flea posing on a fallen leaf on acid grassland. One of the Mecoptera order, like scorpionflies, but flightless, living down among short, Polytrichum mosses on sandy soil.
November 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
A few #Speyside finds for this week’s #Wildflowerhour from a hike up Ben Rinnes near Aberlour.
Bonus Ptarmigans too!
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95 @rspbscotland.bsky.social
Clockwise from top-left: Common Heather, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath & Cowberry (with berries too) Covey of Ptarmigan on Ben Rinnes Wee covey of Ptarmigan walked across the path in front of me- Close encounter with a covey of Ptarmigan on Ben Rinnes (blurry camera phone photo)
November 2, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
npms.bsky.social
Our #NPMS10 online celebration event is this Saturday! Good news - you can still book & join for all or part of the programme ow.ly/xqqf50X4fEE talks from @bsbibotany.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social as well as volunteers & stakeholders.
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 AM
scottshanks.bsky.social
A few #Speyside finds for this week’s #Wildflowerhour.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top left: Red Clover, Green Alkanet, Musk Mallow, Common Fiddleneck, Creeping Thistle, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Common Ragwort & Ivy.
October 5, 2025 at 9:08 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
A few #Speyside finds for #UKFungusDay
@britmycolsoc.org.uk @plantlifeuk.bsky.social #Moray #VC95 #mushrooms #fungi 🍄🍂🍄‍🟫🪵
October 4, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
britmycolsoc.org.uk
🍄 ⭐ It's #UKFungusDay today! ⭐🍄 Join in with events, online activities, competitions. Share your favourite fungus facts, photos & creations. Learn about these amazing organisms & celebrate our fungal world. www.ukfungusday.co.uk
#fungi #nature #mushrooms #fungus
A photo of pin mould Spinellus fusiger covering the cap of a Mycena species fruitbody. White mushroom cap with brown stem on a green background. Taken by Mike Blacknell, a UK Fungus Day 2024 Photography Competition runner-up.
October 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM
scottshanks.bsky.social
The Big BRISC #Bioblitz starts today to celebrate 50yrs promoting biological recording in Scotland! Runs 22nd to 28th September.Record all animals🐦‍⬛🐸🐞, plants🌲🌿🌼, fungi🍄🍄‍🟫 etc that you find. You can take part using iNaturalist or iRecord app projects. nbn.org.uk/news/big-bri... @nbntrust.bsky.social
Advert for the BRISC (Biological Recording in Scotland) Big Bioblitz finale 22nd-28th September.
September 22, 2025 at 10:38 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for this week’s #Wildflowerhour.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from TL: Common Knapweed, Yarrow, Rosebay Willowherb, White Clover, Hedgerow Cranesbill, White Campion, Bell Heather, Cross-leaved Heath, Common Heather, Devil’s-bit Scabious & Grass of Parnassus.
September 21, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
scotwildlife.bsky.social
Do you want to make your neighbourhood better for wildlife?

Join us in Glasgow for a friendly, informal workshop, open to anyone who wants to organise action for nature in their community. The workshop will run on 16 September at 10am and 2 October at 7pm.

Sign up - bit.ly/3UGTQqp
A photo of a person kneeling down tending to some plants. The person is wearing a vibrant red top and denim blue sun hat. They are amidst lots of colourful plants tending to various flowers and vegetables. The person in the photo is part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust's Nextdoor Nature Pioneers Programme.
August 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour
Including a few for the #seedhead challenge.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Heather, Lady’s bedstraws & Devil’s-bit Scabious. White clover, Yarrow, Hedge Bindweed, Oxeye Daisy, Common Hogweed, Angelica seedhead, Sneezewort, Common Daisy, Dandelion seedhead. Tormentil, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Common Ragwort, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Catsear, Lady’s Bedstraws, Lesser Spearwort, Black Medic & Creeping Buttercup Creeping Thistle, Marsh woundwort, Knapweed, Heather, Red Clover, Purple Toadflax, Rosebay Willow herb, Cross-leaved Heath, Devil’s-bit Scabious.
September 7, 2025 at 8:50 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Oops a few days late! But here are a few #Speyside finds for the #Wildflowerhour #fruit challenge🍒.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95 #berries #autumn
Clockwise from top-left: Bramble, Blaeberry, Rowan, Cowberry, Bitter Sweet, Crowberry, Honeysuckle, Cranberry & Elderberries
September 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
savebutterflies.bsky.social
Not ready to stop counting butterflies yet?

Good news! You can help butterflies and moths all year round by recording your sightings through the iRecord Butterflies app 👉 https://butterfly-conservation.org/our-work/recording-and-monitoring/irecord-butterflies

📷: Green-veined White - Iain H Leach
A backlit Green-veined White perched on devil's-bit scabious
August 30, 2025 at 8:00 AM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour
Including a few🌼 for the #DaisyFamily challenge.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Catsear, Common Daisy, Tansy, Oxeye Daisy, Common Ragwort, Corn Chamomile, Corn Marigold, Feverfew, Dandelion (Taraxacum sp.) Clockwise from top-left: Common Knapweed, Creeping Thistle, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Sneezewort, Melancholy Thistle, Marsh Thistle, Cornflower, Yarrow & Aster
August 17, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
pomscheme.bsky.social
The theme for yesterday's #WildFlowerHour was #PollinatorPals - check the tag for some great examples of pollinators in action, from @wildflowerhour.bsky.social, and if you've enjoyed watching pollinators have a go at counting them with a PoMS FIT Count ukpoms.org.uk/fit-counts
August 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour
Including a few blooms with wee beasties for the #PollinatorPals challenge.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Corn Cockle, Self Heal, Common Knapweed, Common Daisy, Melancholy Thistle, Cornflower, Rosebay Willowherb, Ox-eye Daisy, Devil’s-bit Scabious Pollinators on Corn Marigold. clockwise from top-left: Grey-banded Mining-bee, Double-square Spot, Lasioglossum sp. Fagisyrphus cincta, Eristalis pertinax, Heliophilus pendulus, Eristalis arbustorum, Episyrphus balteatus. Four-banded Bee-grabber on Common Ragwort. Hoverfly Fagisyrphus cincta on Corn Chamomile.
August 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Happy #BogDay! Celebrating brilliant bogs and their importance for carbon sequestration, water capture & purification, gorgeous habitats, specialist biodiversity, history & culture. Find out more at bogday.org
Boggy blooms: Common Heather, Bell Heather & Cross-leaved Heath Large Heath butterfly. A peatland-specialist. Their caterpillars feel on Cotton-grasses. The lovely Tansley Bog at Loch Maree within the Beinn Eighe NNR. I visited this lovely wee bog earlier this year. Sphagnum snowflake.
July 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour
Including a few for the #DeadNettleFamily challenge.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Common Restharrow, White Campion, Marsh Woundwort, Wild Pansy, Common Storksbill, Harebells, Bifid Hemp-nettle, Field Pansy, White Dead-nettle. Clockwise from Top-left: Marsh Marigold, Meadow Vetchling, Sticky Groundsel, Lady’s Bedstraw, Common Catsear, Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Lesser Spearwort, Common Ragwort, Marsh Thistle.
July 27, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
rspbscotland.bsky.social
It’s #BogDay and this time last year, the Flow Country became the first peat bog in the world awarded World Heritage Site status 🎉

Healthy peatlands can:
🔒 Act as carbon sinks, locking away CO2
💧 Improve water quality
💪 Support flood management
🏠 Provide a home for wildlife

📷 Paul Turner, Andy Hay
Close up of Sphagnum moss with Common sundew Black-throated diver taking off from water
July 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by Scott Shanks
rosemarymosco.com
Happy National Moth Week. I've been mothing for many years now and I love them so much.
A comic called Types of Moths. A small green and white moth is labeled bird poop. A moth with huge antennae is labeled gets wifi. A huge moth is labeled large friend. A tiny micromoth is labeled beautiful pattern, probably. A tussock moth is labeled impossible to ID to species. A generic brownish beige moth is labeled tha tone, you know, with the thing - arg, I forget the name. A pink and yellow moth is labeled stuffed toy. A sphinx moth is labeled so dizzyingly complex that it consumes your soul. A green moth is labeled ooh, green. A drawing called puppy vs moth. A cute puppy and a fuzzy moth are both labeled cute, fuzzy, and small but only the moth is labeled quiet. Arched Hooktip (Deprana arcuata), American Dagger (Acronicta Americana), ?, Bold-feathered Grass Moth (Herpetogramma pertextalis) Black Zigzag Moth (Panthea acronyctoides), Drexel's Datana (Datana drexelii), Harris' Three-Spot (Harrisimemna trisignata), Waved Sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa) Painted Lichen Moth (Hypoprepia fucosa), Scarlet Underwing (Catocala coccinata), Large Lace-border (Scopula limboundata), Rosy Maple Moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) ?, Red-fringed Emerald (Nemoria bistriaria), Large Maple Spanworm Moth (Prochoerodes lineola), Clemens' Grass Tubeworm Moth (Acrolophus popeanella)
July 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour
Including a few Harebells💙 for the #HarebellChallenge
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from topleft: Ragged Robin, Harebell, Rosebay Willowherb, Harebells, Foxgloves, Feverfew, Eyebright, Vipers Bugloss, Bog Asphodel. Harebells (Campanula rotundifolia)💙 White Harebell next to the River Spey.
July 20, 2025 at 7:58 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Bell Heather, Common Valerian, Musk Mallow, Common Goldenrod, Common Knapweed, Yarrow, Hedgerow Cranesbill, Common Ragwort & River Water-Crowfoot.
July 13, 2025 at 7:59 PM
scottshanks.bsky.social
Some #Speyside finds for #Wildflowerhour.
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95
Clockwise from top-left: Zig-zag Clover, Clustered Bellflower, Rosebay Willowherb, Common Hogweed, Red Campion, Tufted Vetch, Two-flowered Everlasting-pea, Dog Rose, Bird’s-foot Trefoil. Clockwise from top-left:Creeping Buttercup, Scentless Mayweed, Greater Bird’s-foot trefoil, Fox&Cubs, Common Monkeyflower, Yarrow, Common Ragwort, Bird’s-foot Treofil, Cornflower.
July 6, 2025 at 10:40 PM