Debbie Alston
@debbie1alston
Early retired ecologist, nature enthusiast and conservation volunteer now living in Sussex. Botany, butterflies, birds and mammals mostly. Monty Python and Michael Palin fan.
Had a great time at Butts Brow on #EastbourneDownlland today - Clouded yellow, several Silver-spotted skippers, Silver Y moth and a large Wasp spider
Spent a hugely inspiring morning hearing about the work of the Wildflower Conservation Society based in Brighton. We learnt about seed collection, cleaning and storage then went to collect some seed from a local meadow.
The very rare Wall germander seen flowering this week on Seven Sisters Country Park #wildflowerhour
Red star thistle seen this week in the Cuckmere valley, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Last few remaining flowers on this White horehound plant this week in the Cuckmere valley, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Deadly nightshade on Seaford Head, East Sussex today #wildflowerhour
The oddly named Ploughman's spikenard on #EastbourneDownland this week #wildflowerhour
Carline thistle in full flower on the #EastbourneDownland this week #wildflowerhour
Moon carrot starting to flower on Seaford Head, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
We have seen plenty of Clouded yellows this summer in Sussex, but they rarely land long enough to get a decent photo - a success though today!
On a visit to Woods Mill, West Sussex today we saw a couple of Southern Migrants hawkers, (which only landed once while were there) and Ruddy darters
Great day around the quieter parts of Seven Sisters Country Park today @southdownsnp.bsky.social . Red- veined darters, Black-tailed Skimmer, Small Red-eyed damselfly amongst the dragonflies and my first ever Clouded Buff moth.
A new species for me today - the so-called Mexican grass-carrying wasp Isodontia mexicana. Seen on Creeping thistle in Hyde Park, London today (on iRecord)
Lovely to see the newly restored Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens today. The detail in the figures is a delight to see. Thank you @theroyalparks.bsky.social . Spike Milligan would be delighted to see it now looking so vibrant again! 😊
Unusual colours for wildflowers - a pink Yarrow and a white Common centuary! #wildflowerhour
Strawberry clover seen this week in the lower Cuckmere valley, East Sussex #wildflowerhour
Common hemp-nettle in flower this week on #EastbourneDownland. #wildflowerhour
Round-headed Rampion in flower on the #EastbourneDownland today #wildflowerhour
It was hot, hot, hot on the Horseshoe Plantation / Belle Toute butterfly transect today - plenty of Chalkhill blues and over 200 Gatekeepers today.
Round headed rampion in flower this week on #EastbourneDownland #Wildflowerhour
Plenty of Brown argus butterflies on Butts Meadow near Eastbourne today
Very happy to see our first Chalkhill blues of the season today - Horseshoe Plantation near Birling Gap.
Chalk grassland surveying for the National Trust today at High and Over in Cuckmere valley - not a bad view, if only I can stand upright on the steep slopes!
Chalk grassland surveying with the NNR monitoring group today at Seven Sisters Country Park today - fabulous backdrop!
Not the best photos, but I was delighted to see what I think was my first ever Red-veined Darter on a newly restored dew pond in the South Downs National Park! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @southdownsnp.bsky.social
Musk Mallow in flower this week at Knepp, West Sussex #wildflowerhour
Bee orchid in flower on Fairmile Bottom, West Sussex this week #wildflowerhour
Burnt Orchid in flower on the South Downs this week #wildflowerhour