This is a Southern Oak Bush-cricket on a light fitting in my dining room! Originally a Mediterranean species first recorded in Britain in 2001. It has been recorded in Devon before but is a first for me. An apt find on such a scorching day ......
Dr Adrian Colston
@dartmoorac.bsky.social
Self-employed ecologist and a rural social scientist worrying about Dartmoor: wildlife, hill-farmers, archaeology, peat & wilding. Also Associate Research Fellow Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter And Scilly!
Good crowds up at the DevonandExeter SRC for the eclipse, lots of new colanders and really pleased with my SeeStar S30 - brought it all to life
SFI MOR1 survey of Okehampton Common completed for 2026. Last sites around Yes Tor - including encouraging amounts of heather and bilberry #Dartmoor
The steep valley and stream that runs into the south side of Meldon Reservoir. SFI MOR1 and then the rain came and I got properly soaked! 4 sites still left to do tomorrow as a result. #Dartmoor
Another day on Okehampton Common SFI MOR1 - up the West Okement towards Fur Tor, Black a Tor copse from Black Tor and High Willhays …. Achy legs
Back in the 1990s was part of a Bill Oddie Goes Wild film about Wicken Fen - he was a joy to work with and produced a film with @StephenMoss_TV that was honest, fun and accurate. He was also a birder and visited Scilly - this book inspired us all. RIP
Finally managed to photograph a Brown Hairstreak in my garden this year - they are very secretive!
Some fairly extensive areas of dead heather on Okehampton Common - up the hill from the camp - we really, really need a better understanding of the impact of heather beetle in a world of climate change and atmospheric nitrogen pollution - one step forward and two steps back?
We killed two birds with one stone - Dench's birthday today and mine tomorrow so a lovely meal in the sun with a few beers at the Passage in Topsham with Mike's family
Silver-washed Fritillary in the garden this afternoon
This hot weather coming up from the south has brought in some migrant butterflies and moths- Painted Lady and Humming bird Hawk-moth
My first Meadow Brown of the year in my garden this morning
Emsworthy on Dartmoor - bluebells, cuckoos and redstarts
Hill-farmer attitudes to the peatland restoration works on the Commons of Dartmoor adriancolston.wordpress.com/2026/05/06/h...
Hill-farmer attitudes to the peatland restoration works on the Commons of Dartmoor
A research piece carried out on behalf of the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association and the South West Peatland Partnership
adriancolston.wordpress.com
Molinia management on Dartmoor - two case studies Down Ridge and Tavy Head South In partnership with the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association, with financial assistance from the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) grant scheme adriancolston.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/m...
Molinia management on Dartmoor – two case studies Down Ridge and Tavy Head South
In partnership with the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association, with financial assistance from the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) grant scheme Molinia management on Dartmoor – final …
adriancolston.wordpress.com
Nice unexpected start to the day - 7 Black-winged Stilt on Porth Coose beach this morning St Agnes #islesofscilly
Dozens and dozens of Painted Ladies and Silver Ys on St Agnes today - all fresh in
So sad that it is now so exciting to find a Turtle Dove .... one of my favourite birds ....St Agnes #islesofscilly
Despite today's windy conditions the birding has been good, including a Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, plenty of Swallows and a Whimbrel St Agnes #islesofscilly
