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Debbie Alston

@debbie1alston.bsky.social

420 followers 390 following 370 posts

Early retired ecologist, nature enthusiast and conservation volunteer now living in Sussex. Botany, butterflies, birds and mammals mostly. Monty Python and Michael Palin fan.

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 2d

Saw our first Fly agaric of the year today in Abbot's Wood in East Sussex. Plus plenty of other fungus 🍄🍄

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 7d

Helping cut and rake the chalk grassland on part of Belle Toute today with the @southdownsnp.bsky.social volunteers and #EastbourneDownland volunteers

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 8d

Great day at Rye harbour today - total of 61 species of birds seen/ heard including a Glossy Ibis seen flying over Castle Water about 3.30pm. @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 9d

It was a fab night Eric, thank you! xx

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 10d

Devil's-bit scabious in flower on Eastbourne downs today #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 10d

Hemp agrimony seen flowering today on Eastbourne downs #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 10d

Field scabious seen on Eastbourne downs today #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 10d

Flowering ivy seen today on the Eastbourne downs #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 10d

The Eider duck is still visible from Eastbourne seafront near the Holywell end @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 11d

We had a wonderful evening at the Royal Albert Hall in the company of @ericidle.bsky.social . Wow, what a great night! Full of songs and stories, including some touching memories of his friendship with both George Harrison and Robin Williams. Prof Brian Cox came on during the encore. Loved it 😍.

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 13d

Chalk grassland restoration today with the @southdownsnp.bsky.social volunteers at Cloth Farm near Jevington. An ongoing project to remove a lot of the scrub

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 15d

Out with the Seaford Natural History group looking at fungi with the very knowledgeable Jim and Janet Howell in Friston Forest. Plenty of new-to-me species, including the helpfully named Orange peel fungus and Dead Moll's fingers

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 21d

A snoozing Pelican in St James Park from our trip to London yesterday

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · 23d

I had a great time teaching a 3 day mammal course for the FSC over the weekend - looking at mammal signs, tracks, owl pellets and using the Longworth traps. Over two years since I last taught, but thankfully I can still do it and it brings me huge joy as well! Roll on next year, I hope....

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 8

Spent a day at Pagham Harbour today watching the tide rise and fall and the birds come and go. Total of 50 species of birds seen/heard including this Spoonbill at a high tide roost with the egrets and herons @sussexornitholo.bsky.social

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 7

Broad- leaved Everlasting pea seen this week on Hayling Island ( sadly no Long- tailed Blues hanging about near it 😔) #wildlowerhour

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 7

Sea Holly from Hayling island this week #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 7

Autumn gentian from the South Downs this week #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 6

The Grey Phalarope is still present on the Oysterbeds, Hayling island this morning along with a high tide roost of Dunlin, Turnstone, RPlover, Grey plover, Knot, Redshank and a single Bar-tailed Godwit @hosbirding.bsky.social

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 5

A slightly better photo of the Grey Phalarope on the Oysterbeds LNR, Hayling Island, Hampshire today @hosbirding.bsky.social

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 4

Saw our first Grey Phalarope today ( juvenile) at Hayling island Oysterbeds this afternoon. Still in same place at 8pm this evening @hosbirding.bsky.social ( bad photo in low light 🫣)

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 1

Haha, no nothing to do with me Richard. Nice though 😊 💩💩😊

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Sep 1

Autumn gentian and Autumn ladies tresses in flower on Seven Sisters country park this morning. Plus a Whinchat, Wheatear and a small flock of Knot @southdownsnp.bsky.social

Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Aug 31

Water stitchwort in flower today at Pulborough Brooks at RSPB reserve, Sussex #wildflowerhour

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Debbie Alston @debbie1alston.bsky.social · Aug 31

Marsh woundwort in flower this week at Woods Mill, West Sussex #wildflowerhour

Marsh woundwort - has opposite leaves and pink flowers in a whirl around the stem

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