Ok that's enough summer this year thanks bye.

2019: climate emergency 2022: climate dread 2026: climate despair

Pleased with this portrait of the bug Liorhyssus hyalinus, with eggs, in our garden this evening. Another species new to me elsewhere locally in the last week or two.

My first Comfrey Ermine a few mins walk from home at the weekend, first for the garden briefly resting on our out of control sage this evening. What a splendid little animal.

As climate change impacts accelerate, these peatland areas continue to dry out during heatwaves. Why? Because they’re not wet enough. Wet peat doesn’t burn. I’ve just returned from a week staying on the best managed upland estate I’ve ever seen. Everywhere was damp or oozing wet. In mid-July.

Dave Vetter@davidrvetter.bsky.social · 2w ago

I join you from the Blaenavon wildfire in Southeast Wales, brought to you by BP, Shell and Equinor. Though it does not look dramatic, the fire has been out of control for days - for a very particular reason. 🧵

So much for the rain. It wasn't going to be enough anyway.

Presumably these just keep growing back so you don't need to buy another packet

My Salvia brings all the bees to my yard

"Will there be a drought". I don't know. Are bears Catholic?

How can I water my garden in a hosepipe ban and will there be drought this summer?

Millions of people in southern England and parts of Wales face restrictions after prolonged periods of hot weather

theguardian.com

Finally a nice temperature in the middle of the day. Now for some rain please 😫

Now with additional extraordinary, average air temperature for July running a whole 5 degrees above the 1991 - 2020 average for Reading

Chris Foster@chrisfoster.bsky.social · 4w ago

Shaping up to be the most extraordinary run of warm months as recorded on the @unirdg-met.bsky.social field station.

Daily forecasts two weeks out aren't really worth much but it's nonetheless alarming to see 7 of the next 14 days on the BBC weather app at 30+, and the rest with highs of 28 or 29. Some tentative signs of rain at least but unlikely enough and damp with 28+ will feel super sticky #doomed

I can't believe anyone actually likes this weather. They're either lying to themselves or everyone else.

For Reading area folk, the film 'The Little Things That Run The World' is showing at Reading Biscuit Factory next Tuesday, followed by a panel discussion featuring our very own @chrisfoster.bsky.social. Come for the bug pix, stay for the bug chat! www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/movie/ttr-pr...

TTR presents The Little Things That Run the World + Short Film + Panel Discussion

In collaboration with Transition Town Reading, as part of Reading Climate Festival, RBF presents a special documentary screening of The Little Things That Run the World. The Little Things that Ru...

readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk

Shaping up to be the most extraordinary run of warm months as recorded on the @unirdg-met.bsky.social field station.

A cluster of records for Polistichus connexus from the June heatwave, increasingly common at light on hot nights (usually see egg boxes or moth scales in the record images!) 2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest. 📸Stephen French via iRecord

Best approach to today honestly

I thought we might become climate refugees in a decade or so but actually how about by Tuesday?

Uh oh, public evidence of my secret shame (playing the banjo) 😜 But seriously, playing good music with talented friends is such a delight and a perfect distraction from all the things youtu.be/iMFKJMgUzbY?...

First full gig!!! Wisdom Crosses Oceans

YouTube video by The Riverside Union

youtu.be

Excellent day out in the New Forest with @unirdgento.bsky.social students yesterday. Lots of nice finds including Golden-haired Longhorn (Leptura aurulenta), something of an old oak specialist.

One quick answer would be that it's not a question of balance. No biodiversity, no food!

Royal Entomological Society@royentsoc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

🌍 How do we balance food production with biodiversity? Explore the role of insects in sustainable landscapes at #SustainableFarming SIG 2026 Register by 1 July to secure your spot at the conference 🔽 buff.ly/YuaaDhF #Pollinators #SustainableAgriculture #Entomology

Ugh (from the University of Reading Met observatory @unirdg-met.bsky.social )

33 and 34 forecast here next two days and some local geniuses are busy cutting their lawns nice and short to make doubly sure they turn brown.

Splendid evening walk from home yesterday turned up two Grasshopper Warblers reeling, roding Woodcock, juv. Tawny Owls and a Cuckoo on the night shift calling after dark.

So are April or May droughts with dry easterly winds an annual thing now? Doesn't feel long since the last one anyway.

Are you passionate about #InsectScience and looking to build a career in the field? You're in luck! We've got a list of UK and Ireland institutions offering entomological courses. Explore your options today 🔽 buff.ly/RFnYfHB 📸 Green bottle fly Lucilia sp. (c) Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb

Entomology courses - Royal Entomological Society

Interested in studying Entomology? We have compiled a list of institutions in the UK and in Ireland offering full and part time entomologically-related courses, such as undergraduate, postgraduate…

buff.ly

Many things waking up in the neighborhood today.

Distractions while finally catching up with some winter pruning in the garden.

For local folk I'll be talking @carabidaeuk.bsky.social at Kintbury Wildlife Group tomorrow, 7:30pm 🪲https://kintburywildlife.co.uk/Current-programme.html. If I'm organised enough might have some specimens to look at...possibly live ones too!

Final January total for birds seen on foot from home stands at 69, Buzzard finally showed up yesterday (three at once). Strong start to the month was followed by endless rain and the fact my workplace is not realistically close enough to walk to! #footit @footit.bsky.social