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Joseph Beale

@joebeale

Naturalist: surveys, guided walks, writing. Moths, butterflies, birds, dragonflies, soldierflies. SE London-based. Views my own etc. πŸ‰

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14.11.2024
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Latest posts by Joseph Beale @joebeale

Thank you!

21.11.2025 04:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It's for a short communication about a recent record I had in VC16. It would be good to have details of other VC16 records to make sure I've got the right ones from NBN! Thank you.

20.11.2025 18:24 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Autumn Ashy Mining Bee on ivy in late September - normally a species I see in spring/early summer

Autumn Ashy Mining Bee on ivy in late September - normally a species I see in spring/early summer

One of three Teal, small migratory ducks, on the Park lake in mid October - until the fountain came on and scared them off

One of three Teal, small migratory ducks, on the Park lake in mid October - until the fountain came on and scared them off

Udea ferrugalis, a small migratory moth, attracted to light traps on 12th Nov during a warm southerly airflow

Udea ferrugalis, a small migratory moth, attracted to light traps on 12th Nov during a warm southerly airflow

Close up of a Feathered Thorn moth, a large autumnal species, on 12th November - showing the male's golden-orange feathery antennae

Close up of a Feathered Thorn moth, a large autumnal species, on 12th November - showing the male's golden-orange feathery antennae

With awful news (e.g. Planning Bill), I escape in nature. #Greenwich: Moth trap (12th) - Feathered Thorn + 2 Udea ferrugalis (at last a little for @migrantmothuk.bsky.social!). 3 Teal on Park lake briefly (Oct) - until fountain began; my 1st autumn Ashy Mining Bee (Sept) a sign of the climate times.

14.11.2025 11:17 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

What a legend.

05.10.2025 17:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

😲

15.07.2025 22:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

It's so important for insects when other flowers have succumbed to the drought!

14.07.2025 05:43 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Excellent stuff, James!

11.07.2025 10:05 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Save Swanscombe Marshes ~ Vision for Swanscombe Peninsula

It may also be useful to see the value to the local community via the Vision here. What a treasure of a breathing space so close to London! So pleased Natural England recognised its value, and the ill-conceived theme park never went ahead.
www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/sa...

05.06.2025 12:39 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Conservation charities step into set the record straight after PM wrongly claims spiders stopped 15,000 home development Kent Wildlife Trust has refuted claims made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the impact of conservation efforts on housing development in Ebbsfleet.

Anyhoo, it seems unfair for us to pick just a sample of the varied and exceptional wildlife at Swanscombe SSSI. Below is a refutation of the inaccurate political claims being made about the site:
www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/conserv...

05.06.2025 12:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Lovely images of some of Swanscombe's rich wildlife! Such a shame Nightingale and Grasshopper Warbler are Red-listed Birds of Conservation Concern in Britain, and Marsh Harrier Amber-listed, Man Orchid is Nationally Scarce; Distinguished Jumping Spider is Nationally Rare. www.bto.org/sites/defaul...

05.06.2025 12:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Do you mean the site recolonised by nature that's now home to an extraordinary range of wildlife - from Nightingales, Grasshopper Warblers and Marsh Harriers to butterflies and rare orchids (and, yes, rare spiders too)? The one now a SSSI and much valued by the local community as a green space?

04.06.2025 07:00 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Irreplaceable habitats are on the line. This is the reality if an unamended Part 3 of the Bill passes.

It must not.

03.06.2025 14:57 πŸ‘ 253 πŸ” 128 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 4
My first Lesser-spotted woodpecker nest in 20 Years – in Italy! πŸͺ΅πŸ”­πŸͺΆ
My first Lesser-spotted woodpecker nest in 20 Years – in Italy! πŸͺ΅πŸ”­πŸͺΆ YouTube video by Dusty Gedge

Found me a lesser-spotted #woodpeckers nest in last week. 1st in 23 yr used to nest around here i#blackheath #greenwich #lewisham - why not anymore? Mix of joy/sadness This 1 is for @joebeale.bsky.social
youtu.be/W8zSOszVqCg
#birds #nature #wildlife #UrbanNature #urbanwildlife

03.06.2025 20:55 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

'ambient' haha!

02.05.2025 17:16 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Great and informative video, Dusty! I had a look the next day but didn't see it there. Walls do seem to be on the rebound a bit. I'm seeing them around Kent and the Thames Estuary more then before, so there's just possibly a chance we might see others around Blackheath!

02.05.2025 17:14 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Close up of a Least Black Arches moth - a small but attractive moth, finely patterned in black and white

Close up of a Least Black Arches moth - a small but attractive moth, finely patterned in black and white

A Least Black Arches moth - a small but attractive moth, finely patterned with chevrons and wavy lines in black and white

A Least Black Arches moth - a small but attractive moth, finely patterned with chevrons and wavy lines in black and white

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There's a fair chance of finding something interesting if you look at insects - like this Least Black Arches moth. Few Greenwich records, but it has increased nationally. Blackheath this a.m: a Yellow Wagtail paused on migration to catch insects amongst Dandelions. A benefit of less intense mowing!

02.05.2025 16:58 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A fluffy-faced Centre-barred Sallow moth with what appears to be a slightly alarmed look on its face.

A fluffy-faced Centre-barred Sallow moth with what appears to be a slightly alarmed look on its face.

Well here's #mothfaceFriday. A Centre-barred Sallow looking a bit socially uncomfortable.

02.05.2025 16:36 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Amazing Butterfly Discovery Right on the Wall!
Amazing Butterfly Discovery Right on the Wall! YouTube video by Dusty Gedge

A Wall on a Wall - had a #butterfly discovery a few days ago on #blackheath this video goes into detail about said butterfly and its population collapse in London +shout 4 g8 book link in reply#SE #england 4 @joebeale.bsky.social @garrypogson.bsky.social @katemidd.bsky.social
youtu.be/fIIDLeYczkw

28.04.2025 18:16 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

I agree- they are wonderful! BTW saw my first Swifts of the year from the Marathon start area this morning.

27.04.2025 21:44 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I had a brief look this afternoon, saw the wall but not the Wall. But it (and others??) could still be around the grassland and scrub in the area.

26.04.2025 18:12 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Fabulous find, Dusty!

25.04.2025 17:36 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks!

05.04.2025 16:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Apparently #mothfaceFriday is a thing. Well here's one (Elephant Hawk) from Greenwich last summer.

04.04.2025 18:13 πŸ‘ 57 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
A Bee-fly hovers as it sips nectar from a Celandine flower.

A Bee-fly hovers as it sips nectar from a Celandine flower.

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The Dark-edged Bee-flies are back Ted. #Greenwich today.

28.03.2025 19:04 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Skylark!

08.03.2025 22:25 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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My first Comma and first Brimstone of 2025, about 10 yards apart, at Vanbrugh Pits, Greenwich thurs lunchtime. Several years now the same bramble patch has yielded my first comma of the year @joebeale.bsky.social @dustygedge.bsky.social

07.03.2025 22:26 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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If you live in #lewisham #deptford #blackheath #greenwich or anywhere else #selondon a little video ad for a talk I will be doing locally on #nature #wildlife #birds #greenroofs and #greencities as a local #geezer @joebeale.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social @katemidd.bsky.social

03.03.2025 19:10 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2
The pale blue flowers of Harebell, with grass in the foreground and branbles behind.

The pale blue flowers of Harebell, with grass in the foreground and branbles behind.

A pink flowerhead of Bedstraw Broomrape, amongst grass.

A pink flowerhead of Bedstraw Broomrape, amongst grass.

Creeping, red-green stems of Mossy Stonecrop, growing amongst stones and isolated grasses.

Creeping, red-green stems of Mossy Stonecrop, growing amongst stones and isolated grasses.

Old Park in Canterbury is a superb area of acid grassland with a flora including Harebell, Bedstraw (or Clove-scented) Broomrape & Mossy Stonecrop, & loads of Nightingales. The MoD owns it and has put it up for sale. Join the campaign to save this extraordinary site canterburyoldpark.org.uk

24.02.2025 10:52 πŸ‘ 58 πŸ” 30 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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So excited to see this in printπŸ₯³

Congratulations Leslie for a very comprehensive guide on London's butterfly speciesπŸ‘

From species distributions to conservation efforts, if you want to ID butterfly species or conserve them, then this is the guide for youπŸ¦‹πŸ“–

www.naturebureau.co.uk/the-butterfl...

12.02.2025 12:18 πŸ‘ 43 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
A lovely male tufted duck photographed at Hampstead Heath in January. It is floating in a greenish pond, and is mainly black with white on the side of his abdomen. His head is black with some purple irridescence, his beak is grey and his eye yellow. He is facing to the right.

A lovely male tufted duck photographed at Hampstead Heath in January. It is floating in a greenish pond, and is mainly black with white on the side of his abdomen. His head is black with some purple irridescence, his beak is grey and his eye yellow. He is facing to the right.

Hello Bluesky! We've just joined and are looking forward to meeting likeminded societies and people!
The LNHS is a local natural history society concerned with recording the wildlife of London, covering a 20-mile radius from St. Paul's Cathedral. #UKWildlife #LondonWildlife

09.02.2025 17:06 πŸ‘ 113 πŸ” 25 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 3