Heather Bothwell
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hbothwell.bsky.social
Heather Bothwell
@hbothwell.bsky.social
I’m delighted by wild things
Mouse-ear Hawkweed , in flower today, Co Cavan . Google tells me it’s allelopathic , chemicals inhibiting root growth of other plants. #Wildflowerhour
November 2, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Psychoides filicivora (Common Fern Moth) - North Antrim. One of the species still appearing in the garden. #moths #mothsofinstagram #mothsmatter #teammoth #gcampbellphoto @ulsterwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @europebutterfly.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
The Bishop's Stone • Fermanagh

This unusual stone sculpture was first recorded by Dorothy Lowry Corry in the graveyard at Killadeas in the 1930s.

He holds a crozier and bell, indicating his status as a bishop or abbot.

It is thought to date to some time around the 8th - 10th century AD.
October 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Bulgaria inquinans , I suspect .
Jelly like inside , soft . On old oak branch that was ripped off by storm Eowyn back in January. #deadwood #fungi
September 28, 2025 at 4:42 PM
From Gartnanoul , Co Cavan, Broad-leaved Helleborine 15 plants along section of the path . @bsbiireland.bsky.social Do they appear after disturbance ? Or is the light?
#helleborineChallenge #wildflowerhour
some insect casualties in the flower, maybe something else is predatory on site
July 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
June 29, 2025 at 2:10 PM
From Co Cavan today . I’m wondering is it Greater butterfly orchid please? Not quite certain of these angles inside! It was about 18 cm high from base leaves to top of spike . @bsbiireland.bsky.social
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#orchids
June 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Co Leitrim rocks near waterfall is this Pellia endiviifolia ?, basic type deposits. Maybe more several liverwort sp!
June 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Wonder is this Gymnostomum aeruginosum ? From wet cliffs near waterfall south Co. Leitrim, probably on basic tufa type deposits Ireland #bryophytes @bbsbryology.bsky.social
June 22, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Spotted Flycatcher! 😍 Did you know they spend our winter months in Africa? BTO research has shown that some head as far south as Namibia, around 7,000km from their breeding location. 🌍 Sadly, @bbs-birds.bsky.social‬ report shows a 67% decline in population of this species over the last 28 years. 🪶
June 21, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Guttation of field horsetail this morning
June 21, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Not quite sure how he’s managed it , so many spotted orchids on one area of farm. 2025 How should be managing fields? devils bit scabious. Marsh fritillary, mother shipton moth on site this May . Our Sheep sold , and lots of lousewort made barer patches, some strong grass areas, use cattle in Oct?
June 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Eyelash fungi of some type
June 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Appeal To Keep Dogs on Short Leash!

Pet Dogs destroying curlew nest.

Hard to believe but Believe it!

video 👉
breedingwaders.ie/wp-content/u...

Better still don't bring dogs to wild and wetland areas. Ground nesting birds are barely cling on.

@breedingwaderseip.bsky.social
June 16, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Is elder one of the last woody plants to flower in our hedges. June 6th 2025 , Sycamore gone to seed, hawthorn gone to haws , honeysuckle , brambles and wild rose still enticing the insects
June 6, 2025 at 9:17 AM
“Waste ground “ Killeshandra
Lakeland dairies , fantastic red clover and meadow vetchling for #pollinators @lakelanddairies.bsky.social
May 31, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
I sometimes get asked why so much of the timber from south Wales is chipped and burned rather than being used in construction. Who’s to say?
December 23, 2024 at 11:17 AM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Help restore my faith in the world. Who loves a good bog? Make yourselves known! For bogs are - time keepers, death defiers, artifact protectors, carbon trappers, water purifiers, food providers, beautiful mysterious places
December 17, 2024 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
They look good for it to me but let's check with @thenewgalaxy.bsky.social
He's the guy who refound the Ghost Orchid & really knows his stuff!
December 15, 2024 at 8:40 PM
I did find some optimistic primroses in killeshandra, Co cavan this week. Evading the ever present strimmer #wildflowerhour
December 15, 2024 at 8:43 PM
I was chuffed to find these old seed heads because I think they are Broad-leaved Helleborine . Please could some kind botanist put me out of my wondering! Am i right ? . Beside the path in woodland in Co Cavan this week #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social
December 15, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
So, if you ever need to refer to any of the wild bee fauna of Ireland in your writings as Gaeilge, a short trip to tearma.ie will put you right. And you can find lots of new invertebrate common names for other orders that I've requested there, too, like...
December 11, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Really awesome paper just out by Lion Martius, Andy Taylor & colleagues at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social & @wtscotsocial.bsky.social. "Dual mycorrhizal Salix facilitate ectomycorrhizal tree establishment": another reason why Willows are brilliant!
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Nucleation in temperate woodland regeneration: dual mycorrhizal Salix facilitate ectomycorrhizal tree establishment
There is an urgent need for woodland expansion to help enhance and restore vital forest ecosystem services. However, the process of natural regeneration of woodlands is often slow, requiring active r...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:03 PM
Reposted by Heather Bothwell
Winter moths are definitely into the mating phase now, with pairs in cop on oak and pine bark at Yaxley Acres. Pine female is significantly darker.
December 1, 2024 at 5:50 PM