Mike Hetherington

The effect of different grazing managements on butterfly abundance, diversity and composition at a calcareous upland site Research from an upland calcareous site in the Yorkshire Dales finds light cattle grazing supports 4.9× as many butterflies and 1.7× as many butterfly species as light sheep grazing, while ungrazed a...

Here is the full paper
#conservationevidence
@richardfoxbc.bsky.social @djhbutterflies.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @chrisvanswaay.bsky.social @pietervantieghem.bsky.social

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Searching for Early Spring Reptiles (and more) Common Wall Lizard (male) sunbathing - Portland, Dorset, UK - 25 February 2026 After what has seemed like an endless succession of miserable...

When you're searching for reptiles there may be other wildlife distractions ...
Blog at: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/03/sear...
#naturewriting #herps #reptiles
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@arc-trust.bsky.social
@rspbengland.bsky.social
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

I did know that 😉

How about this for a beetle? Minotaur Beetle Typhaeus typhoeus at RSPB Arne, Dorset, UK yesterday.
@rspbengland.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

Three Wall Lizards - two adult and one juvenile lying intertwined in the sun on limestone blocks.

Adult Wall Lizard basking in the sun and flattening out its body to make the most of the warm rock.

The sun brought out a good number of Wall Lizards on Portland, Dorset this morning. 11 seen near Cheyne Weares.
@portlandbirdobs.bsky.social
@arc-trust.bsky.social
@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social

#naturewriting

Iguanas and Basilisks - Costa Rica's Big Lizards Green Iguana - Muelle, Costa Rica As one of the world's most biodiverse countries, Costa Rica contains a huge variety of wildlife. Birds a...

A short blog about Costa Rica's big lizards.
vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/02/igua...
#herps #reptiles #costarica #addherper

First #butterfly of 2026 - this Peacock at @rspb.bsky.social Arne, Dorset this afternoon.

@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

Cafe, notice and visitor information point on a sunny morning at Arne nature reserve, Dorset UK.

Open for business at a sunny @rspb.bsky.social Arne, Dorset this morning.

A lovely little reminder that spring is right round the corner! 💛~ Jack

Primroses in flower up the lane yesterday (West Dorset, UK). Spring is on the way!

@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#wildflowerhour

Full Steam Ahead Podcast Episode · Kākāpō Files II · S2 E7 · 21m

Very much enjoying these gripping tales about practical conservation challenges involving a highly endangered (and very endearing) species.

Worth a listen.
#birds #conservation #nz

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/k...

West Bay #sunrise this morning, Dorset UK.

Bulb type affects #moth species composition. Interesting findings from @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social data.

@dorsetmoths.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/JXBTVF...

Africa’s great elephant divide: countries struggle with too many elephants – or too few In countries such as South Sudan, the great herds have all but disappeared. But further south, conservation success mean increasing human-wildlife conflict

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Hi Marcus. Short answer - yes, although for time reasons they aren’t always ‘processed’ through the iRecord system, which isn’t ideal, I accept. If you have any specific queries let me know and I’ll try to find out what’s happened.

'Beardies' at Radipole Lake, Dorset Bearded Tit - RSPB Radipole Lake, Dorset, UK - 6 January 2026 Surely one of the most charismatic of reedbed birds, as well as one of the m...

Reedling makes much more sense (it’s not a tit and it lives in reedbeds). I still use ‘Bearded Tit’, but that’s just laziness on my part as it’s the familiar name. See my recent blog: vitrealis.blogspot.com

Canary-shouldered Thorn moth

CALL FOR 2025 RECORDS!
The moth traps are quiet, so it's the ideal time to submit your 2025 Dorset (VC9) moth records. More info about this at dorsetmoths.co.uk/help.php.
To be included in the 2025 Annual Report, records should be received by Saturday 28 February 2026.
@dorsetmoths.bsky.social

And they’re still there now 🙂.

Ah thanks Paul. All becomes clear!

CB?

'Beardies' at Radipole Lake, Dorset Bearded Tit - RSPB Radipole Lake, Dorset, UK - 6 January 2026 Surely one of the most charismatic of reedbed birds, as well as one of the m...

A sunny morning at Dorset's Radipole Lake reserve has prompted a new blog post about Bearded Tits (aka Bearded Reedlings):
vitrealis.blogspot.com/2026/01/Bear...
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#naturewriting
#birds

A refreshingly positive 'good news' story by M.S. Warren, S. Rich, and N. Haywood regarding the fortunes of the Silver-studded Blue over 50 years at Studland Heath National Nature Reserve, Dorset, UK. Detailed article at www.dispar.org/reference.ph... @martinswarren.bsky.social

Early morning on Dartmoor - the wild heart of south west England.

National Trust launches fundraiser to help buy land around Cerne Giant Deal expected to pave way for further scientific study, boost conservation and open up access to Dorset chalk figure

Excellent news - Giant Hill is a great place for butterflies and day-flying moths.

#teammoth

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Four new species for Dorset (and a belated one for Britain) are among the highlights of the Dorset Moths Annual Report 2024. Free PDF downland from dorsetmoths.co.uk

#teammoth
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@dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social
@migrantmothuk.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

How to See a Smooth Snake Smooth Snake - RSPB Arne, Dorset, UK Smooth Snakes are the rarest, the hardest to find and (for me) the coolest of Britain's reptiles.  Th...

Want to see a Smooth Snake?
Find out how in my latest blog: vitrealis.blogspot.com/2025/11/smoo...

#naturewriting
#reptiles
#snakes

I saw my first in the Rockies (Jasper National Park) earlier this year.

A small bird with a dark brown back and striking white breast and throat pauses while hunting for food in shallow water at the edge of a small river. Record photo taken in poor light through intervening vegetation!

Good to see a Dipper on the River Lim (Dorset, UK) today. This small river has a recent history of pollution from sewage discharges.
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#birds #pollution #rivers
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Great image!