Steve Gale
@stevewg.bsky.social
Surrey-based naturalist on the edge of Greater London with a particular interest in bird migration, lepidoptera and botany. A liking for searching the under-recorded parts of the North Downs.
northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com
northdownsandbeyond.blogspot.com
My favourite quote from ‘Urban Plants’ by @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social
“the urban botanist often needs a pair of binoculars to help record wall plants, although this naturally runs the terrible risk of being mistaken for a twitcher.”
“the urban botanist often needs a pair of binoculars to help record wall plants, although this naturally runs the terrible risk of being mistaken for a twitcher.”
November 27, 2025 at 6:45 PM
My favourite quote from ‘Urban Plants’ by @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social
“the urban botanist often needs a pair of binoculars to help record wall plants, although this naturally runs the terrible risk of being mistaken for a twitcher.”
“the urban botanist often needs a pair of binoculars to help record wall plants, although this naturally runs the terrible risk of being mistaken for a twitcher.”
Holmethorpe SP, Surrey: 49 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 3 Water Rail, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Stonechat and 20 Yellowhammer #UKBirding
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Holmethorpe SP, Surrey: 49 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 34 Wigeon, 3 Water Rail, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Kingfisher, a Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Stonechat and 20 Yellowhammer #UKBirding
Holmethorpe SP, Surrey: November flowering species creeps up to 269 with the addition of Cowslip and Small Nettle
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Holmethorpe SP, Surrey: November flowering species creeps up to 269 with the addition of Cowslip and Small Nettle
Epsom, Surrey: the November flowering plants list moves up to 267 species with the addition of Procumbent Pearlwort, Common Stork’s-bill and a pavement colonising Trailing Snapdragon
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Epsom, Surrey: the November flowering plants list moves up to 267 species with the addition of Procumbent Pearlwort, Common Stork’s-bill and a pavement colonising Trailing Snapdragon
North Surrey uber patch ‘November in flower’ list now up to 264 species, highlights being a naturalised Sage plus a very ‘wild’ Sticky Mouse-ear. Still no Cow Parsley and am going cross-eyed checking the Cleavers.
November 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
North Surrey uber patch ‘November in flower’ list now up to 264 species, highlights being a naturalised Sage plus a very ‘wild’ Sticky Mouse-ear. Still no Cow Parsley and am going cross-eyed checking the Cleavers.
My natural history book of the year is ‘Urban Plants’ by @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social
Informative, entertaining and inspiring - after reading it you will never walk down a street, pass by a wall or look at a grass verge in the same way again. Highly recommended @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Informative, entertaining and inspiring - after reading it you will never walk down a street, pass by a wall or look at a grass verge in the same way again. Highly recommended @bsbibotany.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My natural history book of the year is ‘Urban Plants’ by @trevorthebotanist.bsky.social
Informative, entertaining and inspiring - after reading it you will never walk down a street, pass by a wall or look at a grass verge in the same way again. Highly recommended @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Informative, entertaining and inspiring - after reading it you will never walk down a street, pass by a wall or look at a grass verge in the same way again. Highly recommended @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Banstead & Epsom, Surrey: with the addition of Hawkweed Oxtongue, Curled Dock and Buck’s-horn Plantain, the uber patch ‘November in Flower’ list goes up to 261 species.
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Banstead & Epsom, Surrey: with the addition of Hawkweed Oxtongue, Curled Dock and Buck’s-horn Plantain, the uber patch ‘November in Flower’ list goes up to 261 species.
Banstead, Surrey: November plants in flower up to 258 species with the additions of Broad-leaved Willowherb and this fine show of Chinese Mugwort outside of the library #UrbanPlants
November 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Banstead, Surrey: November plants in flower up to 258 species with the additions of Broad-leaved Willowherb and this fine show of Chinese Mugwort outside of the library #UrbanPlants
Epsom, Surrey: November flowering up to 256 species with Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill and this striking Chinese Lantern that is finding the pavement to its liking #UrbanBotany
November 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Epsom, Surrey: November flowering up to 256 species with Cut-leaved Crane’s-bill and this striking Chinese Lantern that is finding the pavement to its liking #UrbanBotany
Box Hill area, Surrey: November flowering plant species now up to 256, highlights today being Tansy (pictured), Many-seeded Goosefoot, Water-cress and a single perfect flower on a Butcher’s Broom blade
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Box Hill area, Surrey: November flowering plant species now up to 256, highlights today being Tansy (pictured), Many-seeded Goosefoot, Water-cress and a single perfect flower on a Butcher’s Broom blade
Banstead, Surrey: no new November flowers but did come across this grass verge White Saddle - a distinct fungus.
November 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Banstead, Surrey: no new November flowers but did come across this grass verge White Saddle - a distinct fungus.
Reposted by Steve Gale
Yes, its Dracocephalum moldavica. @naturelark.bsky.social = 👍🏻
November 18, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Yes, its Dracocephalum moldavica. @naturelark.bsky.social = 👍🏻
Surrey Uber patch November flowers now up to 246 species. A few areas of reconfigured bank along the River Hogsmill were very productive, with the imported soil full of Marigolds, Cosmos, Phacelia plus a bonus Wormwood and Moldavian Dragon-head. Also pavement Jersey Cudweed in Epsom #UrbanBotany
November 18, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Surrey Uber patch November flowers now up to 246 species. A few areas of reconfigured bank along the River Hogsmill were very productive, with the imported soil full of Marigolds, Cosmos, Phacelia plus a bonus Wormwood and Moldavian Dragon-head. Also pavement Jersey Cudweed in Epsom #UrbanBotany
This has stumped me. Growing alongside the River Hogsmill (Surrey) on disturbed ground, with a right mix of the wild and exotic. Any suggestions welcome! Colour a good match, nettle-like leaves. Thanks. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
This has stumped me. Growing alongside the River Hogsmill (Surrey) on disturbed ground, with a right mix of the wild and exotic. Any suggestions welcome! Colour a good match, nettle-like leaves. Thanks. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
November flowering plant challenge - Surrey Uber patch: now up to 236 species with addition of Himalayan Balsam, Common Fumitory and this flower bed interloper Eastern Pellitory-of-the-wall, until today a plant I hadn’t heard of - distinct from P. judaica in its obvious robustness #UrbanPlants
November 17, 2025 at 6:44 PM
November flowering plant challenge - Surrey Uber patch: now up to 236 species with addition of Himalayan Balsam, Common Fumitory and this flower bed interloper Eastern Pellitory-of-the-wall, until today a plant I hadn’t heard of - distinct from P. judaica in its obvious robustness #UrbanPlants
Banstead, Surrey: another interesting night at the MV, with two Scarce Umber, only the 2nd & 3rd garden records (first being 12/11/90). Also a record 5 December Moths, 2 Turnip, a Red-green Carpet, 2 Feathered Thorn and a ferrugalis #TeamMoth
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Banstead, Surrey: another interesting night at the MV, with two Scarce Umber, only the 2nd & 3rd garden records (first being 12/11/90). Also a record 5 December Moths, 2 Turnip, a Red-green Carpet, 2 Feathered Thorn and a ferrugalis #TeamMoth
Banstead, Surrey: two ferrugalis and a Yellow-line Quaker to the MV, together with this small pug that I’m assuming to be Double-striped #TeamMoth
November 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Banstead, Surrey: two ferrugalis and a Yellow-line Quaker to the MV, together with this small pug that I’m assuming to be Double-striped #TeamMoth
Surrey Uber patch ‘November in flower’ project: now up to 231 species with today’s additions being Stinking Hellebore, Pellitory-of-the-wall and Thale Cress. I was going to stop after today but will continue right through the month. Still some low hanging fruit (flowers) out there!
November 14, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Surrey Uber patch ‘November in flower’ project: now up to 231 species with today’s additions being Stinking Hellebore, Pellitory-of-the-wall and Thale Cress. I was going to stop after today but will continue right through the month. Still some low hanging fruit (flowers) out there!
Banstead, Surrey: after 38 years of trapping the garden’s first ever Sprawler (a decreasing species in range and abundance), along with a good mix, including Red-green Carpet, Cypress Carpet, Satellite, Feathered Thorn, Green-brindled Crescent and the migrant pyralid Palpita vitrealis #TeamMoth
November 14, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Banstead, Surrey: after 38 years of trapping the garden’s first ever Sprawler (a decreasing species in range and abundance), along with a good mix, including Red-green Carpet, Cypress Carpet, Satellite, Feathered Thorn, Green-brindled Crescent and the migrant pyralid Palpita vitrealis #TeamMoth
November flowering in the Surrey Uber patch: now up to 228sp with highlights of Bladder Campion and this naturalised Scarlet Gaura (listed on @panspecieslisting.bsky.social so included here) - found ‘escaped’ on lose paving close to other plants in a bed.
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
November flowering in the Surrey Uber patch: now up to 228sp with highlights of Bladder Campion and this naturalised Scarlet Gaura (listed on @panspecieslisting.bsky.social so included here) - found ‘escaped’ on lose paving close to other plants in a bed.
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: common bird biomass with 10k Woodpigeon and 1.5k Jackdaw. Keeps me amused and using all my fingers… #UKBirding #PatchBirding
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Denbies Hillside, Surrey: common bird biomass with 10k Woodpigeon and 1.5k Jackdaw. Keeps me amused and using all my fingers… #UKBirding #PatchBirding
Westhumble Chapel, Surrey: built c1200 and abandoned mid-1500s. I’m stood here on a sultry day, in a t-shirt, in mid-November. I bet those that came here to worship and this time of year used to wrap up well. We live in very different times.
November 13, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Westhumble Chapel, Surrey: built c1200 and abandoned mid-1500s. I’m stood here on a sultry day, in a t-shirt, in mid-November. I bet those that came here to worship and this time of year used to wrap up well. We live in very different times.
Banstead, Surrey: the MV went out again, ready to welcome all of those southern migrants. Drum roll please for….
Just a single ferrugalis.
Better than nothing I suppose…
#TeamMoth
Just a single ferrugalis.
Better than nothing I suppose…
#TeamMoth
November 13, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Banstead, Surrey: the MV went out again, ready to welcome all of those southern migrants. Drum roll please for….
Just a single ferrugalis.
Better than nothing I suppose…
#TeamMoth
Just a single ferrugalis.
Better than nothing I suppose…
#TeamMoth
Colley Hill, Surrey: 12,000 Woodpigeons viewable this afternoon, including 8,200 that moved north over the downs #UKBirding
November 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Colley Hill, Surrey: 12,000 Woodpigeons viewable this afternoon, including 8,200 that moved north over the downs #UKBirding
Banstead, Surrey: the garden MV went on for the first time in a while - what with the unusual mildness and faint promise of migrant moths - and was delighted to record a first for the garden, an Oak Rustic. Expected but welcome (420th micro here) #TeamMoth
November 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Banstead, Surrey: the garden MV went on for the first time in a while - what with the unusual mildness and faint promise of migrant moths - and was delighted to record a first for the garden, an Oak Rustic. Expected but welcome (420th micro here) #TeamMoth