J.P

Newts very active in the garden pond on this hot weather. Their success correlates with the initial decline in tadpoles and subsequently frogs. No frogspawn at all this year, previous years the news gorge on it like cattle at a trough. #Gardenwild

No survey just a walk on NY Moors. Slow worm out and adder mating, or the male attempting to. Lucky to be looking down from a bank from a distance on them.

The most interesting observation in today’s reptile survey. 7 year old assistant made us watch for 45 minutes.

Cold spring so far. Not seen a single frog in the garden, normally double figures in pond. Slow worms only really in compost heap so far.

A sunny day gardening after good adder numbers on a sunny survey and now… #GardenWild

Results from a spot of camera trapping in The Highlands @mammalsociety.bsky.social

Mediterranean weather, dolphins from my bedroom, otter, white tailed eagle, pine marten. Rabbie B said it best. My heart’s in the Highlands, good to be home.

Americano, coffee cake and white tailed eagle.

First hummingbird hawk moth seen in the garden this year.

#Ragwort in the garden is worth the pissy comments from neighbours

Dark green fritillaries were everywhere amongst the whites.

#Lindesfarne is like someone took a chunk of The Highlands and dropped it in the sea. Butterflies everywhere on the coastal grassland

Obviously drought and high temps make life tough for any species relying on soft bodied prey which are harder to find in the hot and dry. Recently found a dead hedgehog in my garden so good to catch one mooching around the water tray. @ptes-org.bsky.social @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Hover flies seem to be attracted to the tiny flowers on the olive tree. It’s caked in them.

So small you’d never notice them in passing.

Just watching for a few seconds and you see the abundance of life in one flower.

Knapweed always seems to be number 1 once it starts flowering

Monumental day in my #wildgarden. Nearly 7yrs and the first grasshopper. Can’t see the bugger but sounds like common green. Happy to be corrected.Also hoachin with butterflies today, painted lady, sm white, meadow br, ringlet, speck wood, wall. #GardenWild @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

#Fathersday out in @northyorkmoors.org.uk not surveying. My 1st swimming adder. My lad almost stood on it as it basked on a stepping stone in a burn. Barely thicker than a pencil @arc-trust.bsky.social @argroupsuk.bsky.social

Last #nationalreptilesurvey of the summer for @arc-trust.bsky.social and @yorkswildlife.bsky.social No snakes but it’s hot as hell. No finer place to be than a chalk river on a day like today

Also known as the tessellated water snake

Dice snake on Lake Garda, Italy

2024 was a terrible year on the adder front. My main site was under water until spring '24. Today as 1st chance in decent conditions to survey. Saw more today than in all of 2024. #Herpetology @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @arc-trust.bsky.social

Also adults out in numbers now the weather is warming #Gardenwild

Another unexpected slow worm in the #garden today. I’ve never recorded them before common frog but that’s two this weeeknd. @arc-trust.bsky.social @katebradbury.bsky.social #herpetology #biodoversity #gardenwildlife

Kites now harassing short eared owls