Chequertree
@chequertree.bsky.social
Environment, food, farming, gardening, sometimes with a Kentish slant. Side interest in astroturfing & computational propaganda.
Striped Hawkmoth enjoying the Petunias in my dad's East Kent garden yesterday evening.
Mothing at Folkestone Warren last night was like trapping in a different country - so many species that I never see in Devon: commonest macro was Rest Harrow 🤯 #teammoth
I went out early yesterday morning for what was likely to be my one chance to see a local Purple Emperor this year. Butterflies were not enjoying the heat, disappearing by the minute as they took shelter. After a gruelling 3 hours of walking I got back to the shaded car park & this chap was waiting
Rather extraordinarily I stumbled across a Golden Ringed Dragonfly laying eggs in a tiny shaded stream at a site East of Maidstone today. Is anyone aware of any sightings of this Western and Northern species away from the far South-west of the county?
The spectacularly pretty Mullein Moth caterpillars in the garden have been fattening up fast in the past week. I see them much more often than I do the adult moth, occasionally feeding on Buddleia leaves rather than Mulleins.
Grizzled Skippers appear to have had a good season locally (and nationally).Winter/early Spring work parties have certainly helped at some of the local woodland sites.....they're now on their last knockings.......roll on next April ! #insects #butterflies #wildlife
Very pleased that planting Bladder Campion in the garden a few years ago has continued to pay off, my first Netted Pug of the season popped up in the kitchen yesterday evening.
Yesterday's field meeting on the Leeds Castle estate was very productive. Lots of stuff to sort out still, but species recorded on the day included Early & Changing Forget-me-nots, Sandrunner shieldbug, Grizzled Skipper, various Orthoptera, Viviparous Lizard, and more. #KentNature
@froglife.bsky.social @kentfieldclub.bsky.social any idea what species of Terrapin this is? Hanging out at a friend's pond in East Kent.
Fist Swallow of the year chattering over Finberry Lakes in Ashford this afternoon, hope it can find some insects to eat!
First Hummingbird Hawkmoth of the year powering around my East Kent garden this morning.
I was watching the new BBC sitcom Small Prophets this evening and had to pause when, in episode 3, there appears to be a lot of Aponogeton distachyos, Cape-pondweed, in the canal! #TVBotany @bsbibotany.bsky.social
Seeing this a lot: hedgerow and in-field trees coming to the end of their lives with no replacements being planted or allowed to regenerate. Combination of natural ageing (Enclosure period hedges now c. 250 yrs old), Ash Dieback & other stresses. Important biodiversity resource at risk.
My local council has been taken in by this gimmick unfortunately, am curious who sold the idea to them.
Markus Eichhorn@markuseichhorn.bsky.social · 7mo agoI often get asked about the Miyawaki method of forest restoration, usually by people who have heard extraordinary claims for it. Morales et al. (2025) have reviewed the evidence and found it to be weak or absent. 🌏🧪🌳🌲 besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Still seeing these beauties in the garden every day, after a late start (presumably due to poor overwintering) they've had a good year again.
Had a lovely surprise this afternoon, found the rather rare Deptford Pink growing by a roadside on Romney Marsh.
A late Wall appeared briefly in the garden this morning.
The unusual 'white' wilding Apple tree in the village is fruiting well this year. Rather thick skin & somewhat bland flavour so it might originate from a discarded Golden Delicious or Granny Smith core. Interesting enough for me to try top working a piece onto one of my own trees this Winter.
A very pretty farmland bird mix down by the river this year, let's hope it works!
Finally caught up with some stunning Wasp Spiders in the village this evening. By all accounts they're having a much better season locally after a good few years where numbers have been fairly low.
Southern Water, I hate you, & I hate the parasitic international 'investment' funds who own you & profit from the disgusting mess you've made of this tiny little river which I love. Pic shows a filthy East Stour River, Kent, several miles downstream of sewage release. Discharging 4 hrs & counting.
Just rescued this Large Tortoishell from my garage window, surrounded by spiderwebs! VC15 @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Four of the spectacular moth lifers that I saw among 160+ species in a Kent wood on Friday night with @mammalmark.bsky.social @dartfordtrapper.bsky.social @ruckingemoths.bsky.social & co. Light Crimson Underwing, Rose Plume, Olive Crescent & Bisigna procerella (Beautiful Silver-mark) #teammoth
A Sussex Emerald was a very nice surprise in the garden moth trap last night. High overnight temperatures encouraging dispersal maybe? Probably 7 or 8 miles from the nearest colony I know of, overnight minimum was a bonkers 20.8C here.
It's an exceptional year for Apricots here with fruit set bordering on the ridiculous, and to have them ready to eat before June is out is incredible.
