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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · 10m

Flower identification help needed. Seen today @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton. Looks like a mullein but slightly different flowers and leaves. Is it a garden escapee? The shield bugs certainly liked it. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · 2d

A common sight here in the Fens and around St Ives but great views of a magnificent heron this morning @midsandeastnt.bsky.social Houghton Mill. It was spoilt for lunch choices as the mill pond was teeming with fish. Beautiful autumn hedgerow too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · 26d

Saw second wall brown of the week, having never seen one locally before! Sighting this morning was @rspb.bsky.social Berry Fen Bluntisham - no camera so no photograph but definitely a wall brown. Will record. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · 27d

First visit to @rspb.bsky.social Lakenheath Fen yesterday. So calming, lots of butterflies, dragonflies and birds; the highlight was at least six hobbies overhead - I tried and failed to get a good photograph. We will definitely visit again. @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Sep 7

I have added my sighting to the irecord- it was along the Cuckoo Drove Fen.

nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Sep 7

Not my best photographs but two sightings @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen Over this morning that I haven't seen here before: a wall brown butterfly ( couldn't capture its open wings) and a huge goat moth caterpillar. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Aug 31

From the wonderful @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood today -Guelder rose and briony berries. Also (top) the fruits of the special wild service tree (I think). #fruits Swathes of Devil's Bit scabious a bonus attracting so many pollinators @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Aug 17

A few shots from around the gravel pits at Earith today: a fantastic dryad's saddle fungus, one of many ruddy darters, a solitary brown argus, (lots of white butterflies again) and a cormorant - the king of all he surveys!! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social #fantasticfungi

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Aug 9

We had a lovely stroll around @wildlifebcn.org Summer Leys NR. Our first visit - we'll be going again as there is so much to see in different habitats. We then visited Earls Barton to see the very special Anglo Saxon tower on the parish church. It too didn't disappoint. #englishhistoricchurches

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jul 16

I think this is three common blue butterflies sharing one birds foot trefoil flower at Coton NR this morning - lots of meadow browns and gatekeepers also hiding in the grass. @cambridgeppf.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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Kingfishers Bridge Nature Reserve @kingfishersbridge.bsky.social · Jul 12

It’s our 30th Anniversary Family Open Weekend!

Come and join a guided walk deep into the Reserve and say #buffhello to our herd of Asian Water Buffalo 🐃 🐃🐃🐃

10am-4pm 12-13 July, guided walks hourly, last one leaves at 3pm

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jul 9

Lovely stroll around @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social Bradfield Wood NNR today. So many butterflies, it cheers my heart. More silver-washed fritillaries in one place than I've seen in total over the last couple of years - wonderful! @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jul 7

Certainly, there are so many more red admirals and gate keepers than last year on our patch near St Ives. Lots today along the droves around @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen (Over) as we avoided the cows in the reserve itself! @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jun 29

Caught a lovely white admiral gliding through the brambles @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of large skippers and ringlets too. We wait still to see a purple emperor @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jun 26

Two bumper butterfly days Yesterday walking through @wildlifebcn.org Old Sulehay NR - not seen so many butterflies in one place for a couple of years at least. Numerous marbled whites were the stars. And today at Paxton Pits- including first gatekeepers of 2025 @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jun 18

Lots of butterflies on the wing in @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this morning - lots of commas and meadow browns. First ringlets of 2025 for us and a well travelled, painted lady. Beautiful wild flowers, too - fading common spotted orchids and so much more. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · Jun 1

Oops, I completely forgot the time but still wanted to post these beautiful common spotted orchids (and ragged robin) for #orchidchallenge. Two of many, many orchids emerging @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood this week. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 31

Fantastic - great clip and shots!

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 30

Spotted @wildlifebcn.org Brampton Wood. Is this a Mistle Thrush? At first, I thought it was a (juvenile) woodpecker as it was quite a large bird. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 24

Just a few of the birds we saw @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton today. Highlight was about 30 cattle egrets on the opposite bank - I think their plummage is fantastic! Heard, but didn't see, two purring turtle doves too. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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Emma Mitchell @silverpebble2.bsky.social · May 19

I was unable to work between December & April due to a breakdown. Every single RT here helps put my creative & mental health workshops in front of more eyes & helps me get back on my feet financially. It would help *so* much if you could RT my workshop below if you have a few seconds. Thankyou 🌿

Emma Mitchell @silverpebble2.bsky.social · May 19

My 14 June botanical illustration & mental health w'shop's now enrolling
I'll teach you:
🌿How to break down plants into simple shapes & add shading
🧠How time spent creatively alters brain biochemistry to improve mental health.
Limited spaces,earlybird price:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk/courses/bota...

A selection of late spring garden finds and my illustrations of them & their names in calligraphy alongside.

A selection of autumnal nature and botanical finds, my illustrations of them and their names alongside on a double page spread of a sketchbook. Drawing materials and other small nature finds are nearby.

Cornflowers, Nigella, sweet peas and Russian sage in shades of blue, mauve and purple on one page of a sketchbook and my illustrations of them on the opposite page, along with the fountain pen I used to draw them nearby on a wooden table.

Various spring nature and botanical finds with my pen and ink drawings and watercolours of them on pieces of sketchbook paper. A watercolour palette and fine paintbrush are nearby.

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WildlifeKate @wildlifekate.bsky.social · May 20

The new wildlife pond is coming up trumps! So many birds drinking and bathing here 😁❤️

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 20

Lovely selection of butterflies and bugs @rspb.bsky.social Hope Farm this morning. Lots of common blues, but I was very pleased to see a small copper and brown argus as we didn't see either locally in 2024. Think it's a cardinal beetle but what an amazing creature. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 19

Heard then seen this morning - turtle dove @rspb.bsky.social Fen Drayton Lakes - very distant shot. Lovely to see this nursery of Greylag goslings - picture only shows half of the group. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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nicolaann85.bsky.social @nicolaann85.bsky.social · May 18

Another lovely whitethroat @rspb.bsky.social Ouse Fen this morning. The star attraction is obviously the Great Reed Warbler, but for me, it's the amazing aerial display of the swifts - swooping so close you feel a real connection. (Too swift to photograph!) Wonderful. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

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