Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 6h

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Century-old papers saved from the bin reveal changes in Europe’s plant life

Plant inventories dating back to 1884 and nearly thrown away enable unique time-lapse study of biodiversity in Swiss meadows

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 17h

The Mallow was nice to see this morning. I didn’t appreciate until now the fine scattering of white scales superimposed on the barred wing pattern. 🤎

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Reposted by Rob Yaxley

Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 1d

"Rachel Reeves unblocked a development of 20,000 homes that were being held up by a rare snail, after being approached by a developer with whom she said, 'we have a good relationship'

Not only stupid and ignorant, but crooked with it

Indefensible

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer

Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 2d

Just looking at the previous county records, almost all of them are in October and November. I must get out on a heath somewhere and have a look.

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Reposted by Rob Yaxley

Topknot Crew @topknotcrew.bsky.social · 2d

More mushrooms at Dersingham Bog. Is this the Heath Navel (Lichenomphalia ericatorum) @robyaxley.bsky.social? #Fungi #Mushrooms #lichen

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 2d

Yes it looks like heath navel, I can see the dark green granular thallus there. Nice photos! Also thanks for drawing my attention to the name change, until recently this was L. umbellifera. Please irecord if possible!

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 5d

I’ll be interested to give this a try.

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 5d

Many lichen species are sensitive to nitrogen pollution, making them natural indicators of air quality.

📱LicheN is a new app enabling people to help monitor air quality using lichens. Data gathered will improve understanding of N pollution and its impacts on ecosystems.

buff.ly/AmWAOQB

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Side by side photos of a person looking at a picture of lichen on an app and comparing it to lichen on a tree trunk

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 5d

Business idea for Dragon’s Den - Mothchocs™️

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 5d

First Merveille-du-jour of the autumn this morning. 💚

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 6d

One of a number of very smart noon-flies just nooning around at Holkham pines this afternoon.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 7d

A Red-legged Ham Beetle (Necrobia rufipes) crawls across the hide of a dead grey seal. Blakeney Point.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 8d

This had me puzzled for a while. It’s the common Physcia caesia, but it’s infected with the fungus Polycoccum pulvinatum, which subtly changes the appeasance of the thallus as well as showing as black dots. Blakeney Point.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 9d

Blakeney Point is so exposed that lichens which normally grow on tree bark have resorted to growing on the ground. Punctelia subrudecta, Bryoria fuscescens, Evernia prunastri, Parmelia saxatilis. The Bryoria is rare in lowland England.

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Reposted by Rob Yaxley

Steve Rogers 🟰🟰 @runnelstone.bsky.social · 11d

South Polar Skua at Pendeen Watch on 11th Sept ‘25.

Video shown below courtesy of Mike McKee.

#cornwallbirding #birding

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Reposted by Rob Yaxley

British Birds @britishbirds.bsky.social · 11d

Ticks are more likely to carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease in areas where Common Pheasants Phasianus colchicus are released, according to new research.

Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...
🥇Subscriber Content

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 10d

A great few days staying on Blakeney Point doing lichens with @garyhibberd.bsky.social - thanks to @nationaltrust.org.uk warden Ed for making us so welcome, and good to meet @mothyblackburn.bsky.social for some moths!

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 11d

Don’t eat it. Leave that to the Toadflax Brocades.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 11d

Common toadflax. Your favourite!

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 12d

Steatoda albomaculata on Blakeney Point today. A Very Smart Spider.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 13d

Moss Carder Bee exploring the boardwalk on Blakeney Point today. The best bumblebee in my opinion!

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 14d

A couple of Deep Brown Darts in the trap this morning, a new one for me.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 14d

A single goldcrest was very confiding along the sea defences at Sea Palling this morning, fresh from a flight across the North Sea no doubt.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 14d

The hard sea defences on the east coast of Norfolk are going to be worth searching for lichens - a good winter project. Sea Palling today➡️

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Reposted by Rob Yaxley

Vanna Bartlett @vannabartlett.bsky.social · 16d

Pseudoscorpions can be found in old grass heaps by sieving layers lower down in the heap where the grass is decomposing. Hardcore pseud hunters get ankle deep in dung heaps to sieve for them! Panning for gold...

A figure in a blue jacket and peaked cap crouched next to a large pile of grass and peering intently into a plastic tray.

A figure in a blue jacket and peaked cap bending over next to a huge pile of dung and straw, peering into a tray. There are two bicycles propped together in the foreground.

A figure in a blue jacket and a peaked cap standing on the edge of a large pile of dung and straw at the side of a road, sieving material into a tray.

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Rob Yaxley @robyaxley.bsky.social · 16d

7 - good, but not absolutely completely convincing!

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