Matt Ames
Obsessed with natural history. Bedfordshire based
- Reposted by Matt AmesBishopthorpe Parish Council want to sell a small wildlife oasis hosting rare wildflowers like Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem to a developer. This field belongs to the people of Bish who cherish its wildlife. Please sign this petition to stop them doing this. Thanks 😊 c.org/syGKBRcGBY
- Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) was a nice find under the street light this morning here in Bedfordshire VC30
- Reposted by Matt AmesTears of joy! SCOTLAND HAS JUST PASSED SWIFT BRICKS INTO LAW unanimously! 4 years of asking England & Scotland sorts it in a month led by ACE MARK RUSKELL MSP ♥️The RELIEF is unreal! Tell England to follow 🏴by emailing PlanningPolicyConsultation@communities.gov.uk now!WOOP!
- Reposted by Matt AmesVery pleased to share #OpenAccess paper, which we think is important to understand woodland bird declines and impact of forestry on native ancient woodland in Britain. nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... #ornithology @ukceh.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social @mizpas.bsky.social 🧵1/n
- 3 species of Psychidae on one section of wooden fence. Whilst I was passing by I decided to check the fence where last year I counted over 1000 Luffia lapidella cases, found 853 today along with a probable Dahlica sp. case (needs rearing to confirm) A bonus Psyche casta was nfy. VC30 #teammoth
- Managed #theWinterTen on today's litter pick, with a dozen species in flower. Highlights were Sweet Violets (Viola odorata), my 1st Primrose (Primula vulgaris) of the year, ever-reliable Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and what I suspect is Common Whitlow-grass (Erophila verna agg). #WildflowerHour
- Red-letter day on patch today. I've checked the 'likely-looking' hole in a distant Ash tree hundreds of times on the off chance an owl would be roosting there, today a Tawny Owl was. To top it off a little while later a male and female Marsh Harrier drifted past overhead, patch tick!
- Reposted by Matt AmesThe International Swan Census takes place this weekend, 17-18 January. If you record any Bewick's or Whooper Swans in BirdTrack, we would greatly appreciate if you could add details on the number of adults and juveniles, habitat and location pinpoint #ukbirding Whooper Swans by Sarah Kelman / BTO
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- Reposted by Matt Ames1/ Can you help us count Bewick's and Whooper Swans for the International Swan Census on 17-18 January 2026? 🦢 Visit the vacant site map to request a site at app.bto.org/gsmp/pub... #Ornithology @webs-gsmp.bsky.social
- Rusty-dot Pearl a nice surprise on the wall by the post box this morning here in Bedfordshire VC30
- Surprisingly still plenty of flowers around for this week's #Wildflowerhour Nice to see Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Bush Vetch (Vicia sepium) and Green Alkanet (Pentaglottis semperviens) among others on walks on a couple of the less damp and breezy days.
- Managed to get out for a brief walk today. A quick look at the Brambles turned up 2 Coleophora potentillae cases. VC30 Bedfordshire #teammoth
- Galeruca tanaceti in good numbers on my patch recently. Bucking the trend of many of it's Chrysomelidae 'cousins' in going for a rugged, punctured finish, as opposed to the more usual metallic sheen.
- Dark Swordgrass made a nice addition to the 'on the garden Ivy' list this evening, a couple of Common Plume keeping it company. Bedfordshire VC30 #teammoth
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- Quite a few to choose from for this week's #Wildflowerhour including Dwarf Mallow (M. neglecta) and Musk Mallow (M. moschata), still some Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) on show, and a single Pale Persicaria (Persicaria lapathifolia) on arable margin, glandular hairs checked. Bedfordshire VC30
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- Cloudy and mild last night with lots of activity on the garden Ivy.. 3 Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Green-brindled Crescent, 2 Common Plume, Ypsolopha mucronella, Eudonia angustea with Brick being the highlight, new for the garden here in Bedfordshire VC30. #teammoth
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- Decent returns from the moth trap last night, 71 of 31 species. Great variety, autumn species, late (2nd brood) 'summer' moths plus migrants. Highlights inc Sallow ab.flavescens, L-album Wainscot, Barred Sallow and probable Ancylosis oblitella. Bedfordshire VC30. #Teammoth
- Highlights from my local patch this week include my 1st Clouded Yellow of the year, present for at least 3 days favouring a set aside field, and a patch-tick Grass Snake. Seen sunbathing on a grass verge, I only managed to get a record shot but exciting to see nonetheless. VC30
- Still lots in flower around my local patch this week, making the most of it whilst it lasts. Hoary Ragwort (Jacobaea erucifolia) and Common Ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) both putting on a fine show here in Bedfordshire VC30 #Wildflowerhour
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- Forgot to add you @vc30moths.bsky.social I've entered the record on iRecord under the genus name as species isn't listed yet with a note in the comments, hope that's ok.
- I think I might have found mines of Phyllocnistis extrematrix on new growth of Black Poplar here in Bedfordshire VC30.. @vc28wildlife.bsky.social
- A couple of yesterday's finds on patch here in Bedfordshire VC30. Always nice to see Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug, one of my favourite inverts. Also really good to see 2 Whinchat on passage in the usual location I see them each autumn. Both still present today and seemingly feeding well.
- I think I might have found mines of Phyllocnistis extrematrix on new growth of Black Poplar here in Bedfordshire VC30.. @vc28wildlife.bsky.social
- Good returns from the moth trap last night here in Bedfordshire VC30, 94 of 32spp. Autumnal locals well represented alongside migrants/wanderers. Vestal nfg, Onconcera semirubella, 2 Pediasia contaminella and Pine Carpet. Thanks @migrantmothuk.bsky.social for the forecast. #teammoth
- Feels like crazy conditions for the time of year.. let's see what's out there! Good luck everyone :)
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- Almost impossible to choose a single favourite find for this week's #Wildflowerhour but high on the list has to be what I'm fairly certain are Northern Marsh Orchids from Orrell Water Park near Wigan back in May.
- A potential new species for me today, what i believe are Obolodiplosis robinae galls on Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia), a garden escape growing on the edge of a footpath. VC30 Bedfordshire
- Corizus hyoscyami and Hairy Shieldbug in the margins of a conservation stewardship scheme arable field today here in Bedfordshire VC30
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- I think these Sawfly larvae found on a Birch sapling in the garden might be Nematus septentrionalis. Bedfordshire VC30
