Megan Shersby
@meganshersby.bsky.social
Naturalist, writer and board gamer. Working at @wildlifebcn.org (views my own). Lead author of Where to Watch Wildlife in Britain By Low-carbon Transport (2026). Owner of a dog/servant to two cats. She/her.
RSPB Lodmoor is where I first heard a booming Bittern, c.12 years ago - getting up before dawn to head over from the Isle of Portland and listening to the strange sound reverberating across the reedbeds. How brilliant that they are now successfully breeding there.
birdguides.com
A little leafcutter bee taking a short rest in the garden. #Bees #Insects #GardenWildlife #NorthantsWildlife
And so it begins... This were quite small last time I checked on them. Went for a weekend away and now they're huge! I haven't gone too mad with courgette plants this year- only 2.5. The 0.5 is because one is very shaded and close to a big one, I don't think it will be very productive
Learnt that the common name for this gall is Willow Rose Gall, how lovely is that? Caused by the midge Rabdophaga rosaria. #Galls #PlantGalls #Insects
Getting new shelves soon - do I order my ID guides by series (as seen here), or by subject? The poll on Instagram is leaning one way (I won't say which yet), but interested in what BlueSky folks think...
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Butterfly folks - what do we think? This burnet moth has its head firmly stuck onto the fence post, and was missing its forewings. I poked it (obvs) and the (swollen) abdomen started moving around. Maggots? Parasites? Do I go back and collect it in a pot? Annoyingly, BlueSky won't load the vid
A weekend visit to RSPB Dungeness resulted in another gall lifer! #PanSpeciesListing I spotted an unusual-looking Viper's-bugloss from a distance, and immediately thought "that's probably a gall" - and yes, a little research later revealed that it's caused by the Aceria echii mite.
One of my fave things in York Minster: a medieval wren stalking a spider. It reminds me that history isn't only kings and battles. Someone, centuries ago, found joy in the same things we still notice today. It's a reminder of how much we have in common over our differences.
Himalayan Balsam flowers picked during balsam bashing. What shall I make?
We've absolutely loved Megan's 30 days of Galls - do check out all her posts there are some great finds in there 😍
Megan Shersby@meganshersby.bsky.social · last mo.Day 30 of 30 Galls Wild: a lifer on familiar ground! Finishing the challenge with a lifer! This is a gall caused by Dasineura rosea (midge) on Dog Rose, and it's less than 50m from my desk at the @wildlifebcn.org HQ. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 30 of 30 Galls Wild: a lifer on familiar ground! Finishing the challenge with a lifer! This is a gall caused by Dasineura rosea (midge) on Dog Rose, and it's less than 50m from my desk at the @wildlifebcn.org HQ. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 29 of 30 Galls Wild: a little pea in the bush. A cute little gall, the Smooth Pea Gall can be caused by with Diplolepis eglanteriae or D. nervosa (wasp). D. nervosa can also produce spiked galls called Sputnik Galls, but there were only smooth ones here. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 28 of 30 Galls Wild: maple pimples again! Having seen both Aceria macrochela and A. myriadeum earlier in the month, and shared the former, I thought it wouldn't take long to find the latter again. But it took me until almost the end of the month! #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 27 of 30 Galls Wild: a gall for Rutland Water. I headed up to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust's Rutland Water Nature Reserve to contribute some galls to the bioblitz - one of the highlights was this lifer Eriophyes axillaris (mite). #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 26 of 30 Galls Wild: Looking at galls in a beaver enclosure. Yup, in the enclosure of an awesome reintroduced species, and still looking at galls! These are galls caused by Iteomyia major (or at least Iteomyia sp., midge) on a willow sp (willows confuse me...). #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 25 of 30 Galls Wild: little Sycamore fingers. As mentioned previously, here's the gall caused by Aceria macrorhyncha (mite) on Sycamore! A bit larger and more pointed than the Aceria cephalonea gall shared previously. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 24 of 30 Galls Wild: Cola-nut gall! A return to the more recognisable and conspicuous types of galls. The Cola-nut gall is caused by Andricus lignicola f. agamic on Oak, and looks a little like a small Marble gall - sometimes it can be hard to be sure. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 23 of 30 Galls Wild: a familiar rust. Puccinia glechomatis on Ground-ivy. I've said before I don't know much about rust fungi, and I'll say it again. I do know that this species is on Ground-ivy. #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 22 of 30 Galls Wild: Aceria cephalonea on Sycamore. Another case of some ID work required for this one, with two potential Aceria species. Fortunately the NatureSpot website had a helpful note regarding the shape of the galls' apex (also size). #Galls #PlantGalls
Day 21 of 30 Galls Wild: tricky tetratrichus at Trumpington. Phytoptus tetratrichus on Silver Lime - this one has caused me a right headache, and a delay in sharing 30 Galls Wild posts as I want to keep them chronological! #Galls #PlantGalls
If you're walking, cycling, skateboarding, roller-skating, or skipping your way down to our exciting multi-media exhibition Echoes of Change on Sunday, admission is just a suggested donation of £2pp. Explore the changing landscapes, histories and folklore of the Fens through art, drama and music.
#icanhazpdf request: Beavers are not alone: parasitic assessment of released Eurasian beavers in Central Italy link.springer.com/article/10.1... 🧪 #Rewilding #WildlifeReintroductions
Beavers are not alone: parasitic assessment of released Eurasian beavers in Central Italy - Mammal Research
The Eurasian beaver Castor fiber L., 1758, absent in Italy for over 500 years, has established reproductive populations in Central Italy since 2019, most likely following unauthorized releases. Beside...
link.springer.com
Breeding Bird Spotlight: Bristle-thighed Curlew Cool Fact: After breeding in Alaska, Bristle-thighed Curlews migrate thousands of miles across the Pacific to winter on islands throughout Polynesia, including the Hawaiian Islands. Have you ever seen a Bristle-thighed Curlew?
Do you love filming, and creating videos? Our Digital Communications Officer (Videographer) role could be for you! Find out more and apply ➡️ www.bto.org/jobs 📆 Full time. 📝 £33,954 per annum. 📍 Thetford, Norfolk (Hybrid). ⚠️ Application deadline: 5 July.
Are these all willowherbs? My thoughts on ID: 1. Hoary 2. Broad-leaved 3. Greater 4. Rosebay #Wildflowers #NorthantsWildlife
A small delay in the latest 30 Galls Wild posts as I try to determine the ID on a couple of them - but don't fear, I have continued getting a different one each day! #30DaysWild #PanSpeciesListing #NorthantsWildlife #Galls #PlantGalls #Inverts #Botany
Megan Shersby@meganshersby.bsky.social · 2mo agoA thread of my #30DaysWild posts, where I find a different gall each day - 30 Galls Wild:
Looking forward to the Great Fen members-only guided walk next walk!
Wildlife Trust BCN@wildlifebcn.org · last mo.📣New! Members-only events📣 👉Come along and learn how your membership is helping the wildlife across our region. 🦋Join our Promotions Officers Paul and Megan on Wed July 1 at the Great Fen. 📍Head to www.wildlifebcn.org/events and search 'members only' to book and see more exclusive upcoming events.
