Esmond Brown
@chalkspring.bsky.social
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
Brilliant effort! What a wonderful way to go about it too!
January 13, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Brilliant effort! What a wonderful way to go about it too!
Looked again. TMI & IV are roughly 0.4
January 13, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Looked again. TMI & IV are roughly 0.4
2-2-2-2, I can't see any metatarsal trichbothria on I or IV
January 12, 2026 at 10:07 AM
2-2-2-2, I can't see any metatarsal trichbothria on I or IV
Sodom and Gomorrah had higher moral standards than USA
January 11, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Sodom and Gomorrah had higher moral standards than USA
What British PM would?
January 3, 2026 at 8:41 PM
What British PM would?
No. They're not even thinking about themselves
January 2, 2026 at 10:25 PM
No. They're not even thinking about themselves
Are you working your way through the alphabet?
January 2, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Are you working your way through the alphabet?
Superb find! A great way to finish
January 2, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Superb find! A great way to finish
Disco Doris has to be your best-named find of the year. I'm trying to imagine the underwater dance you did when you discovered it!
January 1, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Disco Doris has to be your best-named find of the year. I'm trying to imagine the underwater dance you did when you discovered it!
I'm always slightly worried about walking on the beach at Charmouth. The cliffs above have been different on every visit. Beaminster is one of those English place names that I'm sure I pronounce incorrectly
January 1, 2026 at 10:09 AM
I'm always slightly worried about walking on the beach at Charmouth. The cliffs above have been different on every visit. Beaminster is one of those English place names that I'm sure I pronounce incorrectly
Premature coleslaw
December 25, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Premature coleslaw
Merry Christmas, Anke and kiddo
December 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Merry Christmas, Anke and kiddo
Yes, I've got at least one species which wasn't in time to make the list
December 24, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Yes, I've got at least one species which wasn't in time to make the list
I don't think Alastair is on here, but I'll thank him nevertheless, and, of course, everyone who helped him put it together.
PS. I much prefer the new order of families and species
PS. I much prefer the new order of families and species
December 24, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I don't think Alastair is on here, but I'll thank him nevertheless, and, of course, everyone who helped him put it together.
PS. I much prefer the new order of families and species
PS. I much prefer the new order of families and species
That's Clubiona corticalis
December 21, 2025 at 10:06 PM
That's Clubiona corticalis
Psocoptera nymph, I think
December 20, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Psocoptera nymph, I think
We have Dipoena torva here – the males have a cephalothorax a little bit like this. Also have a look at Argyrodes argyrodes, from southern Europe – both are Theridiidae
December 16, 2025 at 4:48 PM
We have Dipoena torva here – the males have a cephalothorax a little bit like this. Also have a look at Argyrodes argyrodes, from southern Europe – both are Theridiidae
My local farmshop produces a rosemary-infused rapeseed oil, which is very good for roasties
December 14, 2025 at 9:18 PM
My local farmshop produces a rosemary-infused rapeseed oil, which is very good for roasties
Despite their bright colours, they are surprisingly well camouflaged. It's a skill to 'get your eye in' and spot them. I often notice the stabilimentum on the web first
December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Despite their bright colours, they are surprisingly well camouflaged. It's a skill to 'get your eye in' and spot them. I often notice the stabilimentum on the web first
as is Ozyptila brevipes. Ozyptila claveata is probably a first find in Buckinghamshire for 30 years and highlights the great work done in restoring the chalk grassland habitat at Grangelands nature reserve by @bbowt.bsky.social
December 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
as is Ozyptila brevipes. Ozyptila claveata is probably a first find in Buckinghamshire for 30 years and highlights the great work done in restoring the chalk grassland habitat at Grangelands nature reserve by @bbowt.bsky.social