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James Emerson

@norwichbirder.bsky.social

Naturalist living in Norfolk (UK) - particularly interested in birds, fungi, psyllids and shieldbugs (also real ale, Forteana etc) Local patch = Whitlingham C.P. and the wider Norwich area. Sporadically updated blog: http://jamesbirdsandbeer.blogspot.com/

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Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society@norfolknats.bsky.social · yesterday

NNNS are saddened to hear that Carl Chapman passed away on Friday. Carl made a massive contribution to the Society, as a Trustee, Chairman & through the creation of the Liaison Committee (which he also chaired)- a body that helped strengthen links between NNNS and other local wildlife charities. 1/x

A man wearing a brimmed hat is smiling. In front of his face is a Purple Emperor butterfly that is perched on the end of a grass stem.
James Emerson@norwichbirder.bsky.social · 4d ago

I felt the need for a bit of time outside today, so went to a nearby heath for a mooch round. Having located a Gorse bush with lots of ant-attended colonies of the aphid Aphis ulicis, I then managed to find my first Ant-nest Aphid, Platynaspis luteorubra. It's a known site, but nice to see one.

A close up of a spiky young Gorse branch with a cluster of blackish Gorse Aphids being attended by dark brown ants.An Ant-nest Ladybird, black with four rounded orangey-red spots and an orange face.
Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society@norfolknats.bsky.social · 6d ago

We are delighted to have been able to recognise the significant contributions to conserving, recording and educating people about Norfolk's wildlife made by Carl and Alice by awarding them the Sydney Long Medal (a joint venture with NWT): www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/prestig...

Prestigious Norfolk nature award winners announced | Norfolk Wildlife Trust

Norfolk's highest accolade for naturalists, the Sydney Long Memorial Medal, has been awarded to two recipients - Carl Chapman and Alice Liddle - in recognition of their outstanding contributions to th...

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Peter Sketch@petersketch.bsky.social · 7d ago

If you like the sound of a day talking about #dragonflies and you're in the UK, click the link in the post. (The main talks are usually posted on YouTube for those not in the UK.)

British Dragonfly Society@britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 7d ago

📢 Bookings now open for our Annual Meeting 2026! 🐉 Join us on 14 November in Milton Keynes for a day of inspiring talks and the chance to catch up with fellow dragonfly enthusiasts. 🎟️ Free to attend (donations welcome). Book your place: british-dragonflies.org.uk/event/bds-an...

James Emerson@norwichbirder.bsky.social · last wk.

I've seldom bothered putting out my moth trap in recent years as catches were always low (due to light pollution in my urban garden) but I did yesterday and was rewarded with my first Coronet, which according to BUBO was the 3rd commonest macro moth I'd not seen. Some new micros for the garden too.

Coronet Moth - A green-tinted, well-patterned moth on a brick wall.Rusty Acorn Piercer/Vagrant Piercer (Cydia amplana). A highly-patterned tortrix-type moth on the edge of an egg box.Spotted Knot-horn (Phycitodes binaevella). A pale thin micro moth with several dark spots, on an uneven textured surface.Chamomile Conch (Cochylidia implicitana). A small 'conch'-type micro moth, pale with a slight pinkish wash and a brown diagonal band across thw wings.
UKBMS@ukbms.bsky.social · last wk.

We're recruiting a Transect Coordinator for Suffolk. Help support and inspire local Transect Surveyors while gaining experience in monitoring methods and local butterfly populations. More info here - volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org/opportunitie... @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

Transect Coordinator (Suffolk)

Transect Coordinators help to support and promote butterfly transect recording in their area as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). They help us to understand butterfly populations loc...

volunteer.butterfly-conservation.org

James Emerson@norwichbirder.bsky.social · last wk.

We went to Waterloo Park this afternoon to listen to the Taverham Band. Whilst on the parched grass I noticed the small bug Nysius huttoni running about, and having seen rather a lot of ants near a Cat's-ear plant I turned over the basal leaves and found Aphis hypochoeridis #NorwichAphids

A brass band are seated with instruments below a tall square bandstand with a pyramidal roof. Onlookers are seated on a wall and deck chairs in front.A small brown ground bug, Nysius huttoni, amongst bare soil and dry grass .A single orangey-yellow aphid on the underside of a green Cat's-ear leaf.
Vanna Bartlett@vannabartlett.bsky.social · last wk.

A Mullein plant at NWT Sweet Briar Marshes, Norwich yielded some nice finds today - Mullein Aphids (Aphis verbasci), Ant Nest Ladybird (Platynaspis luteorubra) and Lacebug Acalypta parvula. I have seen lots of reports of the ladybird this year so it was really great to find one (only my second).

The pale grey 'fluffy' underside of a Mullein leaf with several pale yellowish aphids attended by a single black ant. The aphids have dark siphunculi (a pair of short spine like protrusions from the rear of the abdomen); a few are winged and these ones have a black head and thorax.A small black ladybird beetle with four red spots sitting with its head tucked in on a green leaf. The ladybird is covered in fine, pale short hairs.A tiny pale grey lacebug on the 'fluffy' pale grey underside of a Mullein leaf. The bug has red eyes and antennae that have dark swollen tips.
James Emerson@norwichbirder.bsky.social · 2w ago

Vinegar Pond at Mousehold is often rather shallow, so it was something of a suprise that it still had some water. Peering in I noticed lots of large pondskaters, which I suspected were an Aquarius sp. Fortunately I managed to get close enough to photograph one and confirm it was A. paludum.

A muddy pond with green algae growing at the back and wet mud around the foreground. In the background are various trees.A large pond skater on some brownish water with a stick in the bottom left. The pond skater has long upward pointing spines either side of the abdomen tip, an ID feature of this species.