Richard T Taylor
@richardttaylor
Enjoy being outdoors discovering biodiversity under big skies with optics to hand & my digital notebook fortunate to have a life in conservation & land management.Ecologist, Environmental Surveyor, Naturalist, Birder.Once a Ranger always a Ranger.
August 2011, 2022,2024 & 2026.The changing face of #WyverlaneNR @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social as wetland habitat in the Derwent Valley WHS changes over 15 years. From open flash to Purple Loosetrife meadow & developing willow carr #succession #nature never stands still.
Removed from the house Mellinus arvensis, the field digger wasp, a species of solitary wasp. Commonly found from July to late September or October in sandy places. In hard soil however the female will often try to steal a nest from another member of the same species @willowglass12.bsky.social
The moon was a Tangerine dream tonight with an Orange hue.Tonight's full moon is the July Buck Moon, which peaked at 3:36 pm BST in broad daylight. It’s orange as the sunlight light passes through a thick layer of air near the horizon, scattering blue light away leaving red & orange wavelengths.
Another Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden at tea time #Belper @willowglass12.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social @tg42birder.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social seen to go to seek a shady spot #phonesnap @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #DANES
20:40 Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding in the garden after another Hornet Mimic Hoverfly in the house today & mating Gatekeepers also Holly Blues. @willowglass12.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social #DANES @tg42birder.bsky.social
The Square Tank hosted the Mimic Hornet Hoverfly Volucella zonaria as well as an egg laying Common Darter.
Water in any form in the garden in these hot conditions becomes important to a variety of wildlife. If you have room. Even a saucer of water with pebbles for bees, to hoverfly lagoons , old washing up bowls to water features. #notjustponds Had a Common Darter egg laying this am in the square tank.
It wasn’t, no points for them either 😄 Common Blue new for the year in the Garden with two Holly Blues today.
A busy garden today butterfly wise with fresh hatched Painted Lady,Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshells ,Small Skippers Meadow Browns & 23 Gate Keepers Still no Clouded Yellows yet @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social busy Lavender, Marjoram Hemp Agrimony
Distant but distinctive #BBMF Dakota C-47 SW over #Belper #Lookup #Lessweforget
Feeding young. Shaky record shot of proof of breeding Green Woodpecker at #WyverlaneNR @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #Derbysbirds this evening whilst under the watchful eye of a Buzzard @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social @tg42birder.bsky.social
Had a good woodland butterfly wander yesterday on the old stomping ground, 16 species in the sunshine. Some snaps.
Broad bodied Chaser, Gate Keeper & 6 Spot Burnet showing well at #WyverlaneNR in warm but overcast conditions @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social
The main pool #WyverlaneNR @derbyswildlife.bsky.social now showing the impact of no real rain and the hot conditions we have all been experiencing. It’s a Purple Loosestrife meadow. @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social @tg42birder.bsky.social
Butterflies , Dragons & Moths amongst the flowering grasslands at #WyverlaneNR today @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social @tg42birder.bsky.social main pool is now dry.
The flower meadow at #WyverlaneNR is very much the Butterfly meadow currently @willowglass12.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social #DANES
Be a #Firewatcher If out and about during this hot dry spell in the countryside,keep aware of any signs of #Wildfire smoke, Smell, crackling sounds. Already Derbyshire Fire & Rescue have responded to a wildfire above Glossop.Moorland birds need every helping hand during dry spells @rspb.bsky.social
June 24th another scorching day. Seeking shelter in the garden, enjoying the cool of the evening. A bright moon tonight. Growing to a Full Moon on the 30th, Tonight’s Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous approx. 68% visible. #Lookup
Lesser Whitethroat singing away by Dark Lane @derbyswildlife.bsky.social #Derbyshirebirds enroute to the #HollybushInn Makeney Giving it some rattle @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social
Scarlet Tiger once more in the garden , resting up on mint. @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social
Scarlet Tiger resting in the Victoria Plum this evening after flying around the garden today @derbyswildlife.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @belperbirder.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social
A wild wet day at #WyverlaneNR @derbyswildlife.bsky.social today. The main pool is well vegetated @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social @danmartinwildlife.bsky.social ideal Moose habitat.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth at #HintonAmpner @nationaltrust.org.uk this morning by the cafe #migrantmoths
I know they are not accurate but a bit crispy at work down south today too.
A hot day down #WyverlaneNR @derbyswildlife.bsky.social the “coos” cooling off in the margins of the main pool creating improved habitat @belperbirder.bsky.social @willowglass12.bsky.social #usualsuspects Lapwing BHGs family party of Treecreeper Sedge Reed Blackcap Chiffchaff #Derbyshirebirds
Hope this year is a good one for Small tortoiseshell butterflies @ukbutterflies.bsky.social Had this one on Common Farm today @derbyswildlife.bsky.social Red Kite, towering Skylarks, Common Whitethroats #Derbyshirebirds and Flowering grasslands #Localpatch bimbles are so important.
The joy of surveys gets you looking at natural history afresh & in different habitats this last week. #Takeanotherlook
