Palustris
@palustris.bsky.social
Ecologist. Meadows, mires & meres. Wetland beetles, fen creation, Teesside birds. Green.
Other than dolphins v little off Hartlepool Headland 8-10; 30 Red-throated Divers (flyby & on sea), a few Guillemots.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Other than dolphins v little off Hartlepool Headland 8-10; 30 Red-throated Divers (flyby & on sea), a few Guillemots.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Stonechat from Alvor last winter.
November 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Stonechat from Alvor last winter.
Not been to Coatham Woods before (Coatham nr Long Newton, not the Redcar one!) 185 ha of woodland with plenty of scrub and tussocky grassland. Woodcock, GSW, Jay, large numbers of winter thrushes, Bullfinch, Siskin, Redpoll.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Not been to Coatham Woods before (Coatham nr Long Newton, not the Redcar one!) 185 ha of woodland with plenty of scrub and tussocky grassland. Woodcock, GSW, Jay, large numbers of winter thrushes, Bullfinch, Siskin, Redpoll.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
One of the first actions of Reform UK councils was to remove Ukrainian flags from civic buildings. Join the dots...
November 21, 2025 at 3:11 PM
One of the first actions of Reform UK councils was to remove Ukrainian flags from civic buildings. Join the dots...
Greatham Creek and Cowpen Marsh from Heslop Harrison's Survey of the Lower Tees Marshes (1918). Embankment began in 1740, eventually allowing reclamation of 26,000 acres (10,522 hectares) of saltmarsh on Cowpen and Saltholme Marshes.
November 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Greatham Creek and Cowpen Marsh from Heslop Harrison's Survey of the Lower Tees Marshes (1918). Embankment began in 1740, eventually allowing reclamation of 26,000 acres (10,522 hectares) of saltmarsh on Cowpen and Saltholme Marshes.
Privileged to see this beautiful Firecrest at close-quarters recently, caught for ringing on Hartlepool Headland. One of a few on Teesside over the past couple of weeks. Thanks to all involved.
November 17, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Privileged to see this beautiful Firecrest at close-quarters recently, caught for ringing on Hartlepool Headland. One of a few on Teesside over the past couple of weeks. Thanks to all involved.
J.W. Heslop Harrison's 1921 floristic map of the 'Trollius Marsh', once part of Teesside's Billingham Beck Valley, now drained and part of a golf course. He described a remarkable fen habitat, full of Globeflower, Meadow-rue, Marsh Hawksbeard (📷), Great Burnet & Purple Moor-grass.
November 14, 2025 at 8:56 PM
J.W. Heslop Harrison's 1921 floristic map of the 'Trollius Marsh', once part of Teesside's Billingham Beck Valley, now drained and part of a golf course. He described a remarkable fen habitat, full of Globeflower, Meadow-rue, Marsh Hawksbeard (📷), Great Burnet & Purple Moor-grass.
Water Stick-insect at RSPB Saltholme today. This predatory bug (not a stick-insect!) has expanded its range rapidly northwards in recent years. In the late 1990s it reached Nottinghamshire before moving into Yorkshire around 2000. By 2023, it was into Scotland.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Water Stick-insect at RSPB Saltholme today. This predatory bug (not a stick-insect!) has expanded its range rapidly northwards in recent years. In the late 1990s it reached Nottinghamshire before moving into Yorkshire around 2000. By 2023, it was into Scotland.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Hewitt's Chart of Teesmouth, 1832 (re-drawn) vs now, showing the enormous loss of inter-tidal, saltmarsh & coastal grazing-marsh habitats. S = Seaton Snook, T = Todd Point.
November 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Hewitt's Chart of Teesmouth, 1832 (re-drawn) vs now, showing the enormous loss of inter-tidal, saltmarsh & coastal grazing-marsh habitats. S = Seaton Snook, T = Todd Point.
Gannets were 'Mackerel Gants', Oystercatchers 'Mussel Crackers'. Storm Petrels were "Frequently caught by the children in winter". The 'Royston Crow' was Hooded Crow, then a common winter visitor to northern England.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Gannets were 'Mackerel Gants', Oystercatchers 'Mussel Crackers'. Storm Petrels were "Frequently caught by the children in winter". The 'Royston Crow' was Hooded Crow, then a common winter visitor to northern England.
A 'List of Birds' from Sharp's History of Hartlepool (1816). Eider was a rarity but Scaup were common: over 1,000 caught in a week in winter 1788-9 were "sold for 1s. per dozen". Glaucous Gull was simply known as Winter Gull, and a local Herring Gull reached 21 years old. 1/2
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
A 'List of Birds' from Sharp's History of Hartlepool (1816). Eider was a rarity but Scaup were common: over 1,000 caught in a week in winter 1788-9 were "sold for 1s. per dozen". Glaucous Gull was simply known as Winter Gull, and a local Herring Gull reached 21 years old. 1/2
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Mottled Backswimmer was found alongside its relative Notonecta viridis in this pond. Neither were known north of York before the turn of the century: now both occur widely in north-east England, joining a growing assemblage of northwards-expanding aquatic insects.
November 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Mottled Backswimmer was found alongside its relative Notonecta viridis in this pond. Neither were known north of York before the turn of the century: now both occur widely in north-east England, joining a growing assemblage of northwards-expanding aquatic insects.
Sheep-puddled margins provide excellent habitat in this Teesside pond, trampling inhibiting growth of reedmace and maintaining open conditions. Both Chara and Nitella stoneworts are present along with a range of pioneer insects such as Mottled Backswimmer (Notonecta maculata).
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Sheep-puddled margins provide excellent habitat in this Teesside pond, trampling inhibiting growth of reedmace and maintaining open conditions. Both Chara and Nitella stoneworts are present along with a range of pioneer insects such as Mottled Backswimmer (Notonecta maculata).
Hartlepool Headland 8.00-10.15: small movement of Little Gulls south, 20 in total. Regular Mediterranean Gull, 28 Red-throated Divers, Snow Bunting over. Harbour Porpoise, 2 (different?) pods of dolphins, first v hyperactive, jumping clear of water but distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Hartlepool Headland 8.00-10.15: small movement of Little Gulls south, 20 in total. Regular Mediterranean Gull, 28 Red-throated Divers, Snow Bunting over. Harbour Porpoise, 2 (different?) pods of dolphins, first v hyperactive, jumping clear of water but distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
This sprawling brassica has suddenly become a prolific weed on the allotments. Don't recall seeing it before this year. Basal leaves coarsely toothed, bristly and stalked. I'm keying it to either Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) or Black Mustard (Brassica nigra). Does that sound right, botanists?
November 3, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This sprawling brassica has suddenly become a prolific weed on the allotments. Don't recall seeing it before this year. Basal leaves coarsely toothed, bristly and stalked. I'm keying it to either Hoary Mustard (Hirschfeldia incana) or Black Mustard (Brassica nigra). Does that sound right, botanists?
The diving beetle Deronectes latus was described as new to science by J.F. Stephens in 1829 from specimen collected by L. Rudd of Marton Lodge (now Stewart's Park, Middlesbrough). Ormesby Beck, a short walk away, would have been nearest likely habitat for this running water species.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
November 1, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The diving beetle Deronectes latus was described as new to science by J.F. Stephens in 1829 from specimen collected by L. Rudd of Marton Lodge (now Stewart's Park, Middlesbrough). Ormesby Beck, a short walk away, would have been nearest likely habitat for this running water species.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
📷U Schmidt, CC.
Out on the estuary, wildfowlers would conceal themselves in wooden casks buried in the mud, as described by R. Lofthouse in his essay 'The River Tees: Its marshes and their fauna', published in the Proceedings of Cleveland Naturalists' Field Club in 1907.
October 31, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Out on the estuary, wildfowlers would conceal themselves in wooden casks buried in the mud, as described by R. Lofthouse in his essay 'The River Tees: Its marshes and their fauna', published in the Proceedings of Cleveland Naturalists' Field Club in 1907.
A duck decoy operated on Coatham Marsh (Redcar) up to 1872. Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Scaup, Shelduck were trapped, with a Ferruginous Duck caught in 1850. The area south of Marsh House has long since been tipped over.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
October 31, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A duck decoy operated on Coatham Marsh (Redcar) up to 1872. Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Pochard, Scaup, Shelduck were trapped, with a Ferruginous Duck caught in 1850. The area south of Marsh House has long since been tipped over.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Below: extract from 1st edition OS 6" map, surveyed ca. 1850.
Hartlepool Headland 7.45-10.15: highlight was a Little Auk N at 09.13, close-in. Also 3 Arctic Terns, 3 Little Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Ducks. Ca 500 geese S at 9am, v distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Hartlepool Headland 7.45-10.15: highlight was a Little Auk N at 09.13, close-in. Also 3 Arctic Terns, 3 Little Gulls, 2 Long-tailed Ducks. Ca 500 geese S at 9am, v distant.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Hartlepool Headland 8-12: 6 Great Skuas, 12 Little Gulls, 10 Arctic Terns, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Long-tailed Ducks. @teesbirds.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Hartlepool Headland 8-12: 6 Great Skuas, 12 Little Gulls, 10 Arctic Terns, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Long-tailed Ducks. @teesbirds.bsky.social
Didn't expect much from this reedy, urban-fringe ditch nr Stockton-on-Tees but 13 water beetles included Hydroporus figuratus, an uncommon small diving beetle of shaded fen. This species can occur in both boldly-marked and almost completely dark forms. It was abundant in this ditch.
October 24, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Didn't expect much from this reedy, urban-fringe ditch nr Stockton-on-Tees but 13 water beetles included Hydroporus figuratus, an uncommon small diving beetle of shaded fen. This species can occur in both boldly-marked and almost completely dark forms. It was abundant in this ditch.
Hartlepool Headland 07.30-10.00: Disappointing, 1 ?Arctic Skua N, 1 Mediterranean Gull, several Little Gulls & commic terns, 13 RT Divers.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Hartlepool Headland 07.30-10.00: Disappointing, 1 ?Arctic Skua N, 1 Mediterranean Gull, several Little Gulls & commic terns, 13 RT Divers.
@teesbirds.bsky.social
@teesbirds.bsky.social
Bioabundance: A Tudor account of insects washed downstream by a winter flood on the River Severn, in such vast quantities that they jammed up water mills for four days and had to be dug out by the shovel load.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Bioabundance: A Tudor account of insects washed downstream by a winter flood on the River Severn, in such vast quantities that they jammed up water mills for four days and had to be dug out by the shovel load.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Source: Transactions of the Entomological Society of London, vol 1, 1812.
Is this a record of a living animal, or does it refer to fossil statoblasts extracted from sediment? I covered the latter in a review of invertebrate records for the Foss which is on the River Foss Society website.
October 22, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Is this a record of a living animal, or does it refer to fossil statoblasts extracted from sediment? I covered the latter in a review of invertebrate records for the Foss which is on the River Foss Society website.