Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Esmond Brown

@chalkspring.bsky.social

180 followers 180 following 160 posts

Gentleman, scholar and sometime acrobat. Foodie, chef, rugby player, birder, diplomat, drinker of fine malt whisky and gin. Your friendly neighbourhood spiderman – if your neighbourhood is The Chilterns, South Buckinghamshire or the Scottish Highlands

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 1d

@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social
Two spiders that I seem to find if I'm NOT looking for them:
Antistea elegans is a spider I've wanted to find on the Bucks section of the R. Chess, having years ago seen Doug Marriott's records for it on the Herts side

3 9

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 1d

Happy to defer to those (Graeme, Richard) with greater experience, but that dark cephalothorax (often the whole spider looks black, apart from legs)is very typical of flavipes and not at all like the pale-brown headed cristatus I find

1 3

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 1d

My first thought too, but all my specimens of cristatus stand out because, unlike most other Tenuiphantes I see, they are well sclerotised. In Løvbrekke's drawings, the highlighted 'pockets' should be visible. The lobes on cristatus never fill more than half the copulatory opening in my experience

1 1

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 1d

T.flavipes with those large round lobes to the scapus

1 2

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 4d

I'm slightly disappointed that Richard's not in his wetsuit

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 4d

Some familiar backs of heads 😁

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 4d

Wow! Great find. Who gets the credit?

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 5d

@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social
Me: I don't have a favourite UK spider

Also me: 😍

#Arachtober

Ero tuberculata, a rather scarce Pirate Spider is found mainly on mature heathland on tall heather and gorse, but sometimes also in houses. It searches out the webs of other spiders in order to feed on the occupants

1 7 56

Reposted by Esmond Brown

John Boorman @johnboorman.bsky.social · 6d

Garden wildlife. These Harvestmen (Opiliones) are quite active in the garden at night at the moment. Thanks to Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social for confirming the ID as Odiellus spinosus. @britishspiders.bsky.social #londonwildlife

4 7

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 9d

@travismcenery.bsky.social is a great natural history communicator

1 2

Reposted by Esmond Brown

Simon Phelps @simonphelps.bsky.social · 12d

Many people are afraid of spiders. However it would be hard to be scared of this one. This is Aelurillus v-insignitus, which I found on the dune heaths in Dorset last year. A lovely little jumping spider, very charming! Thanks to @tylanberry.bsky.social for the ID! @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

1 5 18

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 11d

Beautiful spider

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 11d

Still sour that Celtic lost in the final of a one team competition in May? At least these favourites hauled themselves over the line. I'm not celebrating, but I'm very happy for this group of exemplary sportswomen. Deserved champions

1 1

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 11d

Miles ahead? Did you watch the semi finals? England have the best squad and they proved it today, but there is no gulf between any of those four

Esmond Brown @chalkspring.bsky.social · 15d

Regularly seen on the south coast – Brighton appears to be a hot-spot. Check iRecord and and iNat for recent records, while British Spiders undergoes a big overhaul