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mantis-page.bsky.social
mantis /\0"0/\
@mantis-page.bsky.social
10 followers 43 following 2 posts
local bug menace and conservationist in training
they/them :]
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Reposted by mantis /\0"0/\
ellaslinn.bsky.social
Some more shots of a foraging Song Thrush, the male Kestrel, a showy Reed Bunting, and a Common Sandpiper at The Hole. #PWNR #AvonBirds
January 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Nice winter's walk around Portbury Wharf NR yesterday with plenty of birds around, including a very showy Buzzard, a mating pair of Kestrels, plenty of thrushes enjoying the berries, and some energetic Stonechats. #PWNR #AvonBirds
January 11, 2026 at 4:46 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
A singing turtle dove at @kneppwilding.bsky.social a few weeks ago in the evening sunlight. Amazing to see and hear this gorgeous bird in the UK, absolutely mesmerising #UKbirding
July 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
An afternoon visit to @slimbridge-wild.bsky.social for the whooper swan proved successful today, alongside an influx of winter ducks, an incredibly showy snipe on the Rushy, the long-staying black swan, and plenty more birds to a total of 50 species #GlosBirds
A whooper swan stood in shallow water with avocets, teal, and black-headed gulls in the foreground and background. A group of ducks on rippling water, with a female pochard in focus. Out of focus in the foreground is a male pochard and a female tufted duck, and in the background is a group of male and female tufted ducks. A common snipe stood in short grass with a small invertebrate in its bill, likely a small slug. A black swan on water preening the feathers between its wings.
October 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Very shaky handheld footage, but lovely to see and hear the male Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Kingsgate Park this morning in their favoured tree. Showing off that lovely red nape patch in the sun #SouthGlosBirds #UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 12:29 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Lovely winter scenes on the Rushy at WWT Slimbridge this morning, I don't think I'll ever tire of the sound of Bewick's swans 🦢 #GlosBirds #UKBirding
November 23, 2025 at 5:07 PM
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sarahseeandersen.bsky.social
The image is of a three panel comic. In panel one, a stick figure says “Sometimes friends drift apart.” In panel two, we see a close up of an otter’s face. The otter says “nope.” In panel three, we zoom out and see two otters holding hands/paws in the water. One otter says “not us.”
August 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Slowed down to half speed, I captured this footage of a male banded demoiselle stretching out his wings. In real time this happened in the blink of an eye. #odonata #damselfly
July 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
A selection of demoiselles from my trip to @kneppwilding.bsky.social, both beautiful and banded. These little jewels were flitting around the streams and ponds throughout the weekend, but I could never get bored of them! #odonata #damselfly
A male beautiful demoiselle perched on a green leaf. The demoiselle's body is a vibrant metallic blue, and its wings are a darker metallic navy-blue. A female beautiful demoiselle perched on a green leaf in bright sunlight. Its body is metallic blue, and its wings are transluscent brown. A male banded demoiselle perched on a green leaf. Its body is metallic blue, and its wings are mostly transparent except for a dark navy band across the middle of the wing. A male and female banded demoiselle mating on a green reed. The male demoiselle's body is metallic blue, and its wings are mostly transparent except for a dark navy band in the middle of the wings. The female demoiselle's body is metallic green, and its wings are completely transparent. Their bodies form a shape similar to a simplified heart.
July 19, 2025 at 2:29 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Alongside some more typical views of purple emperors in the treetops, we also saw many other species including marbled and large white, comma, speckled wood, peacock, and more for a total of 16 species. @kneppwilding.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #UKbutterflies 🦋
A purple emperor perched on an oak leaf high in a tree, looking down at the camera. Its wings are folded showing the orange and white underside with visible eyespots and a distinct white stripe. A marbled white butterfly perched on grass with its wings spread next to a cranefly. The butterfly's wings are mostly white with black patterns forming black and white spots, similar to a marbled pattern. A large white butterfly feeding on a bramble flower. Its wings are folded showing its underwings. Its forewing is bright white with two black spots and a faint black marking on the upper edge. Its hindwing is a yellowish-white which contrasts with the forewing. A European comma butterfly perched on a branch with its wings spread. Its wings are bright orange with black spots. The edges of its wings are scalloped forming a unique shape.
July 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Here, a male purple emperor feeds on cowpat, giving stunning views of its underwings with their eyespots, as well as occasionally flashing its gorgeous purple upperwings. @kneppwilding.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #UKbutterflies 🦋
July 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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ellaslinn.bsky.social
Some of many butterflies from a fruitful purple emperor safari at @kneppwilding.bsky.social recently, starring the purple emperor itself, alongside stunning silver-washed fritillaries, ringlets, purple hairstreaks, and plenty more enjoying the sun. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #UKbutterflies 🦋
A purple emperor butterfly facing towards the camera at an angle, showing both its patterned orange and white underwing, and the purple and white upperwing. Its bright yellow proboscis is extended and feeding on a cowpat. A silver-washed fritillary butterfly feeding on the flower of a bramble. The butterfly is a vibrant orange colour with a pattern of black spots and stripes. A purple emperor butterfly facing away from the camera at an angle, showing its purple and white upperwing. It has a small eyespot at the back of its hindwings, consisting of a black circle with a white centre, surrounded by an orange ring. A ringlet butterfly perched on a large leaf. It is a brown butterfly with a white edge to its wings, and small but distinct ring-like white circles on its hindwings.
July 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
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alexwild.bsky.social
The thing about entomology is, there are always weirder bugs than anything you could imagine on your own.

Here's Cysteodemus wislizeni, a blister beetle from west Texas.
Photograph of a metallic blue/green beetle with a very spider-like body, a huge fake "abdomen" that is swollen and dented with even pits over its bulbous surface. It is otherwise ant-like, standing on a pure white stylized background.
July 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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savebutterflies.bsky.social
New research by the University of Oxford and Butterfly Conservation has shown hedgerows, small copses & trees can significantly increase the number of butterflies in farmed landscapes 🌳

The study also found that ancient trees were associated with higher butterfly species richness.

📷: Andrew Cooper
Gatekeeper butterfly basking on a green leaf
July 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM
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rspb.bsky.social
We believe in you lil' guy.
A tiny Goldcrest stands alert on a conifer branch, its golden crown stripe faintly visible. The text reads: “Too small to trigger the timing mat.” “May still be running.” “We believe in them.” Caption: “Birds Running a Marathon – Goldcrest”.
July 9, 2025 at 10:53 AM
mantis-page.bsky.social
Had such a wonderful time creature spotting in a beautiful wild backdrop and celebrating graduating with you! Cannot wait for future naturey escapades together :D
ellaslinn.bsky.social Ella Slinn @ellaslinn.bsky.social · Jul 9
Recently spent the weekend at @kneppwilding.bsky.social with @mantis-page.bsky.social and we had an amazing time! Along with some of the safaris, we spent our time exploring the thriving nature around the estate. I have plenty more photos to share but here are some of my favourites #Knepp
A red converted shepherd's hut surrounded by wildflowers in front of a woodland, lit up by warm sunlight. A white stork stood at the top of an oak tree in warm sunlight. The stork is looking off to one side, and has white feathers and a long, bright red beak. A female fallow deer in warm sunlight looking at the camera, surrounded by tall ragwort plants with yellow flowers. The deer is light brown with white spots and a black tail.
July 9, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Reposted by mantis /\0"0/\
ellaslinn.bsky.social
Recently spent the weekend at @kneppwilding.bsky.social with @mantis-page.bsky.social and we had an amazing time! Along with some of the safaris, we spent our time exploring the thriving nature around the estate. I have plenty more photos to share but here are some of my favourites #Knepp
A red converted shepherd's hut surrounded by wildflowers in front of a woodland, lit up by warm sunlight. A white stork stood at the top of an oak tree in warm sunlight. The stork is looking off to one side, and has white feathers and a long, bright red beak. A female fallow deer in warm sunlight looking at the camera, surrounded by tall ragwort plants with yellow flowers. The deer is light brown with white spots and a black tail.
July 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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dradriansmith.bsky.social
New video! Flight footage from 23 species across 7 insect orders! youtu.be/gDI5g3rd0Ls
Thumbnail cover image for a YouTube video showing a stonefly and a green june beetle flying, text reads "insect flight - 23 species!"
March 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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americanbeetles.bsky.social
THE most smallest water beetle I’ve ever seen (pinhead for scale)
Ventral view of a pleasingly smooth and shiny little water beetle (dytiscid I guess??) Dorsal view of pleasingly smooth little water beetle, next to the head of a pin (slightly larger than the beetle)
March 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
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alexwild.bsky.social
The wasp mantisfly, Climaciella brunnea, is not a wasp, a mantis, or a fly. It is instead a type of spider-eating lacewing that keeps itself safe by looking like it has a painful sting, which is does not.

Evolution continues to be marvelous. 🧪 #Entomology
Side view photograph of an oddly proportioned reddish brown insect with yellow stripes standing alert on the end of a stick against a blurred natural background.
November 10, 2024 at 1:36 PM