Andrew Douglas
@andydouglas1967.bsky.social
Spiders, inverts, botany, birds, wine, beer, food, pottery, aircraft. Not necessarily in that order. See @andydouglas1967-IT.bsky.social for IT/Computer Science stuff. West Norfolk and South Northamptonshire.
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
Whether you were taught about industrial melanism at school or are completely new to the subject, this should be an interesting online talk -
Did spiders turn darker during the Industrial Revolution? 🕷️
Join Dr Geoff Oxford on 26 Feb 2026 as he revisits three cases of alleged industrial melanism in spiders—and whether they truly fit the classic Darwinian story. (FREE!)
🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1968443417...
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Join Dr Geoff Oxford on 26 Feb 2026 as he revisits three cases of alleged industrial melanism in spiders—and whether they truly fit the classic Darwinian story. (FREE!)
🔗 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1968443417...
@britishspiders.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Whether you were taught about industrial melanism at school or are completely new to the subject, this should be an interesting online talk -
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
Whooper Swans, sounding like a brass band falling down the stairs. Sound up. #ukbirding
November 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Whooper Swans, sounding like a brass band falling down the stairs. Sound up. #ukbirding
Last of the night - Centromerus sylvaticus. Fairly common I think, but first time I've seen it. Three or four females in the mix, of differing sizes (largest being about 3.5mm)
November 27, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Last of the night - Centromerus sylvaticus. Fairly common I think, but first time I've seen it. Three or four females in the mix, of differing sizes (largest being about 3.5mm)
Ozyptila brevipes - found in fens. I think we might have seen this at Wicken?
November 27, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Ozyptila brevipes - found in fens. I think we might have seen this at Wicken?
In the cut reed/reed pile area, it's mostly Centromerus sylvaticus and male/female Walckaenaria unicornis, but I think this must be Kaestneria pullata, a wetland species.
November 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
In the cut reed/reed pile area, it's mostly Centromerus sylvaticus and male/female Walckaenaria unicornis, but I think this must be Kaestneria pullata, a wetland species.
Walckenaeria from Boughton today. Wet habitat. Is it alticeps or antica? alticeps or antica? Well, in my ability to measure the emoblus, 13/45 is about 28.89 so antica. Nice to finally find a male though.
November 27, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Walckenaeria from Boughton today. Wet habitat. Is it alticeps or antica? alticeps or antica? Well, in my ability to measure the emoblus, 13/45 is about 28.89 so antica. Nice to finally find a male though.
A few bits - too many zoomed in photos on my crappy iPhone which aren't very good. Pardosa sp? Zora with dark knees. Tibellus. Funny Ladybird.
November 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
A few bits - too many zoomed in photos on my crappy iPhone which aren't very good. Pardosa sp? Zora with dark knees. Tibellus. Funny Ladybird.
Spent a few hours at Boughton Fen. Walked down to lower fen, and spent too long around cut grass/reed and reed piles. I thought I'd follow the path onwards and it takes you through the middle fen. A couple of sluice gates. Didn't leave enough time to do much here though.
November 27, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Spent a few hours at Boughton Fen. Walked down to lower fen, and spent too long around cut grass/reed and reed piles. I thought I'd follow the path onwards and it takes you through the middle fen. A couple of sluice gates. Didn't leave enough time to do much here though.
Just saw a clip from @qi.com on the you tubes, about thermodynamics and spoons. Alan mentions people hitting themselves with trays. As entertainment. It reminded me of the late Bob Blackman - still funny, I think. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNLL...
Bob Blackman - Mule Train
YouTube video by Second Saturday's Warrior
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Just saw a clip from @qi.com on the you tubes, about thermodynamics and spoons. Alan mentions people hitting themselves with trays. As entertainment. It reminded me of the late Bob Blackman - still funny, I think. www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNLL...
I was going to hit Boughton's Lower Fen today - more open reeds, a bit of a cut area, piles of cut reeds to look through. But there are still big areas of frost in the garden, and it isn't the most sunny area. Seems like the wrong thing to do. Had meant to go yesterday.
November 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I was going to hit Boughton's Lower Fen today - more open reeds, a bit of a cut area, piles of cut reeds to look through. But there are still big areas of frost in the garden, and it isn't the most sunny area. Seems like the wrong thing to do. Had meant to go yesterday.
Last week there was a talk about the Fen Flora Project, and the video has just been released. Here's a complete list of their videos - the flora one is at the bottom. It was quite interesting.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Fens East Peat Partnership (FEPP) and Natural England lowland peat in the Fens webinar series - YouTube
A series of webinars looking at ways to protect the remaining peat in the Fens that will enable food production and peat restoration to work together, allowi...
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Last week there was a talk about the Fen Flora Project, and the video has just been released. Here's a complete list of their videos - the flora one is at the bottom. It was quite interesting.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Pudding update. I ate half the smaller pudding yesterday. It was ok - didn't come out of the bowl properly so I think the mixture was maybe a bit wet. I have three puds - I've 'fed' one, for easter, but I don't think they're keepers. Might make more, but not yet. Was up til gone 2am cooking them.
November 25, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Pudding update. I ate half the smaller pudding yesterday. It was ok - didn't come out of the bowl properly so I think the mixture was maybe a bit wet. I have three puds - I've 'fed' one, for easter, but I don't think they're keepers. Might make more, but not yet. Was up til gone 2am cooking them.
I succumbed to a deal. I wouldn’t normally bother at home, but £20 for a dumpy tree as tall as me - I love a real tree and the decos just sit under the stairs most years. Cherry but need some spooky tv now.
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I succumbed to a deal. I wouldn’t normally bother at home, but £20 for a dumpy tree as tall as me - I love a real tree and the decos just sit under the stairs most years. Cherry but need some spooky tv now.
Death Star bauble.
November 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Death Star bauble.
Is there a way of finding out who owns a particular field or area of rural land? I seem to recall there was a map that showed which estates owned land, but google isn't helpful on this. I've 'contacted' a likely candidate but an on-line form is hopeless and they haven't replied a week a later.
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Is there a way of finding out who owns a particular field or area of rural land? I seem to recall there was a map that showed which estates owned land, but google isn't helpful on this. I've 'contacted' a likely candidate but an on-line form is hopeless and they haven't replied a week a later.
Puddings on - three and most of one to do plus fried a bit to see how it tastes. Pretty good, despite burning it a bit. Might mix another batch and do three more.
November 24, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Puddings on - three and most of one to do plus fried a bit to see how it tastes. Pretty good, despite burning it a bit. Might mix another batch and do three more.
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
Ahhh happy Sunday night everyone. The wonderful @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com thought it wise to ask me to talk about my fav specimens…
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Exciting new episode today is SPIKY, featuring our first ever guest the incredible @flygirlnhm.bsky.social. Spoiler alert - there may be some flies! m.youtube.com/watch?v=8si6...
Our first guest brings a powderpuff with wings | The 'Perfect' Specimen Ep14
YouTube video by Natural History Museum
m.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Ahhh happy Sunday night everyone. The wonderful @nhcooper123.bsky.social and @joshlukedavis.com thought it wise to ask me to talk about my fav specimens…
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
Enjoy. @dipterists.bsky.social @royentsoc.bsky.social @amentsoc.bsky.social
As i sit here and finish half a tin of Makesons milk stout, I say, beware any christmas pudding that doesn't have a good strong dark beer in it. Plum stout (not St Peter's this year as couldn't find) and Makesons here, with brandy and a good slosh of creme de mure.
November 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
As i sit here and finish half a tin of Makesons milk stout, I say, beware any christmas pudding that doesn't have a good strong dark beer in it. Plum stout (not St Peter's this year as couldn't find) and Makesons here, with brandy and a good slosh of creme de mure.
Stir Up Sunday. Make a wish everyone.
November 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Stir Up Sunday. Make a wish everyone.
Also, for fans of Munich beer, Sainsburys are selling Augustiner beer - I could only see the standard Helles, but good enough. Maybe the weissbier or dunkel will make an appearance at some point?
November 22, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Also, for fans of Munich beer, Sainsburys are selling Augustiner beer - I could only see the standard Helles, but good enough. Maybe the weissbier or dunkel will make an appearance at some point?
All the things gathered for christmas pudding making. That's the next few days sorted. Had hoped to get to Boughton Fen again but weather doesn't look promising.
November 22, 2025 at 3:52 PM
All the things gathered for christmas pudding making. That's the next few days sorted. Had hoped to get to Boughton Fen again but weather doesn't look promising.
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
I know next to nothing about spiders, but this web caught my attention. Does anyone recognize it? Same Houston Forest, Texas.
November 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I know next to nothing about spiders, but this web caught my attention. Does anyone recognize it? Same Houston Forest, Texas.
This is neither here nor there, but I took a couple of wolfies that looked like they might be adult, but with obscured epigynes. Neither was adult, but using the Lycosidae key in Roberts, this wouldn't fit Pardosa. But it looks like Pardosa to me. Is that key not great or need some interpretation?
November 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is neither here nor there, but I took a couple of wolfies that looked like they might be adult, but with obscured epigynes. Neither was adult, but using the Lycosidae key in Roberts, this wouldn't fit Pardosa. But it looks like Pardosa to me. Is that key not great or need some interpretation?
Reposted by Andrew Douglas
People of Norfolk, come and spend a cosy winter evening with me, @themarshtit.bsky.social and @timholtwilson.bsky.social as we talk birds, landscape and history at NWT’s Cley reserve on 5th Dec. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tales-of-b.... #NorfolkWildlifeTrust #NorfolkNature #naturewriting
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
People of Norfolk, come and spend a cosy winter evening with me, @themarshtit.bsky.social and @timholtwilson.bsky.social as we talk birds, landscape and history at NWT’s Cley reserve on 5th Dec. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tales-of-b.... #NorfolkWildlifeTrust #NorfolkNature #naturewriting