Rambling Ray
@rayrambling.bsky.social
🦋 Connoisseur of Nature 🍷
🍄 Species observer 🔎
🐛 Wildlife Photographer 🌸
🌳 Admirer of Ancient Landscape 🌱
Connecting Nature through Expression
🍄 Species observer 🔎
🐛 Wildlife Photographer 🌸
🌳 Admirer of Ancient Landscape 🌱
Connecting Nature through Expression
Pinned
Rambling Ray
@rayrambling.bsky.social
· Nov 19
Some glorious looking Bristly Haircap Moss Polytrichum piliferum on the sandy Heathland at Roydon Woods, New Forest. Lovely Scarlet and Orange Sporophytes which grow to around 10cm. Leaves have White hair extensions. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Surprise find Cwm Idwal Mountain path Rare glimpse of New-Zealand Willowherb Epilobium brunnescens Long Orange-Brown stems heart shaped leaves. Introduced Edinburgh 1904, found in upland areas, requires 1350mm annual precipitation @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
July 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Surprise find Cwm Idwal Mountain path Rare glimpse of New-Zealand Willowherb Epilobium brunnescens Long Orange-Brown stems heart shaped leaves. Introduced Edinburgh 1904, found in upland areas, requires 1350mm annual precipitation @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Lovely to see Pale Pink three-lobed flowers, Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica Boggy areas around Llyn Idwal. Also Nationally scarce Parsley Fern Cryptogramma crispa, Cwm Idwal Mountain ledges. Indicator species of Acidic Scree slopes @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
July 23, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Lovely to see Pale Pink three-lobed flowers, Lousewort Pedicularis sylvatica Boggy areas around Llyn Idwal. Also Nationally scarce Parsley Fern Cryptogramma crispa, Cwm Idwal Mountain ledges. Indicator species of Acidic Scree slopes @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Special find at Cwm Idwal Snowdonia last week, Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum. Amongst our oldest Native vascular plants 430 Million years old. Lovely to see some delightful looking Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica too! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
July 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Special find at Cwm Idwal Snowdonia last week, Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum. Amongst our oldest Native vascular plants 430 Million years old. Lovely to see some delightful looking Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica too! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Further Summer Highlights from the Little Butterflies in life that really matter. Lovely looking Small Blue Cupido minimus at Pembrey Burrows dunes Carmarthenshire, plus equally Beautiful Small Copper around St Abb's Head Scotland last week @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Further Summer Highlights from the Little Butterflies in life that really matter. Lovely looking Small Blue Cupido minimus at Pembrey Burrows dunes Carmarthenshire, plus equally Beautiful Small Copper around St Abb's Head Scotland last week @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Butterfly Highlights this Summer, a wonderful looking Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes ssp. salmacis at Smardale Gill Cumbria. Also lovely to hear an audible drumming sound from a Male Small Tortoiseshell on Female wings at Wheatfen NR Norfolk @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
July 23, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Butterfly Highlights this Summer, a wonderful looking Northern Brown Argus Aricia artaxerxes ssp. salmacis at Smardale Gill Cumbria. Also lovely to hear an audible drumming sound from a Male Small Tortoiseshell on Female wings at Wheatfen NR Norfolk @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Further Summer Moth Highlights, a glorious looking Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata Green Down NR Somerset, plus an elegant looking Mother of Pearl Moth Pleuroptya ruralis at Leicestershire WT Cloud Wood #mothweek #teammoth #MothsMatter
July 23, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Further Summer Moth Highlights, a glorious looking Magpie Moth Abraxas grossulariata Green Down NR Somerset, plus an elegant looking Mother of Pearl Moth Pleuroptya ruralis at Leicestershire WT Cloud Wood #mothweek #teammoth #MothsMatter
Some colourful Summer Moth Highlights. A dazzling Forester Adscita statices on Battlesbury Hill Warminster, and delighted to find a Beautiful Female Clouded Buff Moth Diacrisia sannio hiding in boggy Sherbrook Valley, Cannock Chase. Perfect for National #mothweek #teammoth #mothsmatter
July 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Some colourful Summer Moth Highlights. A dazzling Forester Adscita statices on Battlesbury Hill Warminster, and delighted to find a Beautiful Female Clouded Buff Moth Diacrisia sannio hiding in boggy Sherbrook Valley, Cannock Chase. Perfect for National #mothweek #teammoth #mothsmatter
Real delight to see growing together across extensive Ancient Woodland BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, both Pink and Rare White form of Pink Purslane Claytonia Sibirica. Pink Pollen and inner Yellow markings clearly standout on the latter @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
May 28, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Real delight to see growing together across extensive Ancient Woodland BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, both Pink and Rare White form of Pink Purslane Claytonia Sibirica. Pink Pollen and inner Yellow markings clearly standout on the latter @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Some wonderful colour on upper levels of Temple Ewell NNR Kent. Wonderful to see Hound's-tongue flowers open for a change, plus lovely magenta flowers of Native Procumbent Sainfoin Onobrychis vicifolia across Chalk downland @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
May 28, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Some wonderful colour on upper levels of Temple Ewell NNR Kent. Wonderful to see Hound's-tongue flowers open for a change, plus lovely magenta flowers of Native Procumbent Sainfoin Onobrychis vicifolia across Chalk downland @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
A successful early Spring visit to the Upper levels of Cwm Idwal, where I managed to find both Purple 'Mountain Saxifrage, Saxifraga oppositifolia, plus the basal rosette of Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris in a nearby Sphagnum Bog! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
May 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A successful early Spring visit to the Upper levels of Cwm Idwal, where I managed to find both Purple 'Mountain Saxifrage, Saxifraga oppositifolia, plus the basal rosette of Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris in a nearby Sphagnum Bog! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Further Spring delights, a Beautiful looking Orange Ladybird Leics WT Cloud Wood, which feed on Dog's Mercury mildew. Plus a Rare glimpse of Ramsons Hoverfly Portevinia maculata at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, requiring extensive areas of Ancient Ramson Woodland #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday
May 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Further Spring delights, a Beautiful looking Orange Ladybird Leics WT Cloud Wood, which feed on Dog's Mercury mildew. Plus a Rare glimpse of Ramsons Hoverfly Portevinia maculata at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, requiring extensive areas of Ancient Ramson Woodland #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday
Special Spring visit to Drigg Dunes Cumbria to finally track down Nationally Scarce Northern Dune Tiger Beetle Cicindela hybrida, found in only two Locations in Britain, and my goodness they're fast! Great to see a Green Tiger Beetle nearby too #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday
May 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Special Spring visit to Drigg Dunes Cumbria to finally track down Nationally Scarce Northern Dune Tiger Beetle Cicindela hybrida, found in only two Locations in Britain, and my goodness they're fast! Great to see a Green Tiger Beetle nearby too #WildWebsWednesday #InsectThursday
Amongst the more interesting Moths I've encountered so far this Spring, the Bright colours of Hedge Beauty Alabonia 'geoff'rella at Temple Ewell NNR Kent, plus a Rare daytime glimpse of The Minister Eulia ministrana, a glorious looking Moth of the Highest Order! @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #MothsMatter
May 28, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Amongst the more interesting Moths I've encountered so far this Spring, the Bright colours of Hedge Beauty Alabonia 'geoff'rella at Temple Ewell NNR Kent, plus a Rare daytime glimpse of The Minister Eulia ministrana, a glorious looking Moth of the Highest Order! @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #MothsMatter
Amongst the pick of my Spring Butterfly sightings so far, a lovely looking Pearl-bordered Fritillary at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, and a relaxed Wall Brown sunbathing at Drigg Dunes Cumbria @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
May 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Amongst the pick of my Spring Butterfly sightings so far, a lovely looking Pearl-bordered Fritillary at BC Mabie Forest Dumfries, and a relaxed Wall Brown sunbathing at Drigg Dunes Cumbria @s4r4h-l.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
Great to see lush looking Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolia in Celtic Rainforest Aber Falls NNR, plus a diminutive Mountain Brownie Psilocybe montana just reaching 2cm above equally Rare Thorn Lichen Cladonia uncialis! @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour #FungiFriends
March 4, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Great to see lush looking Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium oppositifolia in Celtic Rainforest Aber Falls NNR, plus a diminutive Mountain Brownie Psilocybe montana just reaching 2cm above equally Rare Thorn Lichen Cladonia uncialis! @bsbibotany.bsky.social #wildflowerhour #FungiFriends
Lovely to see a pair of Minotaur Beetles Typhaeus typhoeus in close proximity, emerging from deep underground 1.5m burrows, in the late afternoon Sunshine last week on Bradgate Park Moorland. Males use their Bull-like Horns to guard tunnel entrance! #coleoptera #beetle #beetles
March 4, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Lovely to see a pair of Minotaur Beetles Typhaeus typhoeus in close proximity, emerging from deep underground 1.5m burrows, in the late afternoon Sunshine last week on Bradgate Park Moorland. Males use their Bull-like Horns to guard tunnel entrance! #coleoptera #beetle #beetles
Some colourful Fungi from a visit to New Lount Colliery, including some very Orange looking Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes, plus an amazing Valentines Day Heart shaped Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca #fungifriends #fungi #mycology
March 4, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Some colourful Fungi from a visit to New Lount Colliery, including some very Orange looking Velvet Shank Flammulina velutipes, plus an amazing Valentines Day Heart shaped Scarlet Elf Cup Sarcoscypha austriaca #fungifriends #fungi #mycology
Some Glorious Lichens in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Hoary Rosette Lichen Physcia aipolia, grows into tree nodes of Hawthorn & Blackthorn, plus some shapely Old man's Beard Lichen, most likely Usnea subfloridana #lichen #lichens #LichenFriends
March 4, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Some Glorious Lichens in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Hoary Rosette Lichen Physcia aipolia, grows into tree nodes of Hawthorn & Blackthorn, plus some shapely Old man's Beard Lichen, most likely Usnea subfloridana #lichen #lichens #LichenFriends
Round up of February Highlights on my travels. Wonderful Liverworts in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Lovely looking Lesser Featherwort Plagiochila porelloides & dazzling colours of Tamarisk Scalewort Frullania tamarisci @bsbibotany.bsky.social #bryophytes #liverwort
March 4, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Round up of February Highlights on my travels. Wonderful Liverworts in Celtic Rainforest of Coedydd Aber Falls NNR. Lovely looking Lesser Featherwort Plagiochila porelloides & dazzling colours of Tamarisk Scalewort Frullania tamarisci @bsbibotany.bsky.social #bryophytes #liverwort
Review of 2024 - Finally my Favourite Moss & Lichen, some Beautiful Shining Hookaria (lucens) Moss in Ban-y-Gor (Wattle Wood) Lancaut Gorge Chepstow. Plus some super Giraffe Lichen Cladonia rangiformis Brown Hills Quarry Leics. Check out their long Giraffe's Neck! #BritishBryophytes #lichen
January 2, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Review of 2024 - Finally my Favourite Moss & Lichen, some Beautiful Shining Hookaria (lucens) Moss in Ban-y-Gor (Wattle Wood) Lancaut Gorge Chepstow. Plus some super Giraffe Lichen Cladonia rangiformis Brown Hills Quarry Leics. Check out their long Giraffe's Neck! #BritishBryophytes #lichen
Review of 2024 - amongst my Favourite Fungi this Autumn, a magnificent structure of Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia Granby Wood Longshaw Estate, plus some squawking Parrot Waxcaps at Cathays Cemetery Cardiff @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #fungifriends #mycology #fungi
January 2, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Review of 2024 - amongst my Favourite Fungi this Autumn, a magnificent structure of Orange Peel Fungus Aleuria aurantia Granby Wood Longshaw Estate, plus some squawking Parrot Waxcaps at Cathays Cemetery Cardiff @s4r4h-l.bsky.social #fungifriends #mycology #fungi
Review of 2024 - Amongst my Favourite flowers this year - Endangered species Purple Milk-Vetch Astragalus danicus Dumbarnie Links NR Fife, plus Nationally scarce Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata Great Orme Llandudno @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
January 2, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Review of 2024 - Amongst my Favourite flowers this year - Endangered species Purple Milk-Vetch Astragalus danicus Dumbarnie Links NR Fife, plus Nationally scarce Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata Great Orme Llandudno @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social #wildflowerhour
Review of 2024. My favourite Insects - Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Dune Spurge Bug Dicranocephalus agilis, on host plant Sea Spurge, Ynyslas NNR, plus a lovely adult Drake Mackerel Ephemera vulgata, one of Britain's largest Mayfly at 20mm on River Tame #InsectThursday #Bugsky #uknaturalists
January 2, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Review of 2024. My favourite Insects - Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Dune Spurge Bug Dicranocephalus agilis, on host plant Sea Spurge, Ynyslas NNR, plus a lovely adult Drake Mackerel Ephemera vulgata, one of Britain's largest Mayfly at 20mm on River Tame #InsectThursday #Bugsky #uknaturalists
Review of 2024. My Favourite Moth encounters this year, Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata Flanders Moss NNR Scotland, plus a beautiful Lace Border Moth Scopula ornata at Butterfly Conservation's Prestbury Hill Cheltenham #UKmoths #teammoth #MothsMatter
January 2, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Review of 2024. My Favourite Moth encounters this year, Rare glimpse of Nationally scarce Argent & Sable Rheumaptera hastata Flanders Moss NNR Scotland, plus a beautiful Lace Border Moth Scopula ornata at Butterfly Conservation's Prestbury Hill Cheltenham #UKmoths #teammoth #MothsMatter
Review of 2024, My favourite Beetle encounters - extremely rare glimpse of Nationally Scarce Four-spotted Carrion Beetle Dendroxena quadrimaculata Hopwas Wood Staffs, plus a lovely Rufous Shouldered Longhorn Beetle Anaglyptus mysticus Cloud Wood Leics #UKwildlife #uknaturalists #InsectThursday
January 2, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Review of 2024, My favourite Beetle encounters - extremely rare glimpse of Nationally Scarce Four-spotted Carrion Beetle Dendroxena quadrimaculata Hopwas Wood Staffs, plus a lovely Rufous Shouldered Longhorn Beetle Anaglyptus mysticus Cloud Wood Leics #UKwildlife #uknaturalists #InsectThursday