This is another test posting to see if it will come up to the top of the listing
It does - though itâs just a new Thread, the other was a proper Category.
Itâs in the right place and Categories are fine, maybe we would be more disciplined with threads and keep things in better order?
Shall we see how it goes?
Next item that will be in the news is the outbreak of Painted Ladies and possibly Red Admirals, I have seen lots over the past few days all moving fast.
In the news - Seaweed, specifically it says Sargassum though no pictures are good enough for a confdent id. Seweed does not often get in the news, so didnât want you to miss this oneâŠ
Obviously not use to UK beaches.
This caught my eyeâŠ
.
Flemish artist, scholar, poet and miniaturist Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600) created the first illustrated book devoted to the study of insects.
And so it came to be that there is life on the moon, probably.
Tardigrades donât seem well represented on iSpot⊠here is one https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/712644/tardigrade
from which you can access the other.
.
However, maybe itâs too soon to need an additional iSpot community (Moon) to accommodate themâŠ
While Moths on iSpot are getting attention from some of us to get them identified ( you can help here) https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/project/769755/unidentified-moths
There are some moths that are doing very well without our helpâŠ
1 Like
Thanks for this Jo - I see itâs the season to be more vigilant - and make space in the freezer.
Similarly bacteria & moss outside a space station
Ulva species in the news⊠but not, apparently, welcome.
So, whatâs our opinion on turning in the stoat?
You can imagine this has received a LOT of interest here, It began maybe 10 years ago when one, probably two (as tangoing comes to mind) were either brought maliciously or imported with animal feed. Too much publicity was applied to the possible loss of rare ground-nesting birds like the Short-eared owl and the Hen Harrier, They, the persecutors. should have concentrated on their food source, the Orkney Vole. The Orkney vole is unique to Orkney and they are packed lunches to Stoats.
Several ÂŁilliion has been allocated to completely eradicate the stoat - there will be several thousand by now with the odd report from âouterâ Isles. The task is immense, the will-power and co-operation is not.
I think it too late for complete eradication and only two need to be missed. But I have mixed feelings - the Stoat is lovely (they are in my garden), the Orkney Vole is unique (they are in my garden). The trapping programme uses Killer traps - itâs hard to keep kittens and baby rabbits out of them.
See https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/679948/ - there are now no rabbits in my garden. The Vole population is VERY hard to monitor, no-one seems to be doing that. I rarely actually see one but their little tunnels and trails are still warm. https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/observation/183465/
Wikipedia tells me that the Orkney Vole is also found on Guernsey. However I can imagine that could be a parallel evolution of island gigant(ish)ism.
The Giant Neolithic Belgian vole
Good read? âthe Orkney samples were most similar to those from Yugoslavia, thus indicating an origin in the Eastern Mediterranean.â is from http://www.orkneyjar.com/archaeology/dhl/papers/kd/index.html
and
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/09/genetic-treasure-island-voles-show-dna-antiquity
and a longer read here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/mec.12462
The Orkney vole in Guernsey⊠another reason for the Channel Isles to be included?
I have noticed that in many ways Stamp collecting is similar to what we do in iSpot, ways, including debating the geographical boundaries of the catalogues.
From the preface of Commonwealth and British Empire SG Stamp Catalogue:
âIn this catalogue Ireland (Eire) is included purely as a matter of convenience to collectors.â
I see no reason why iSpot should not include the Channel Isles in the UK and Ireland community â as a matter of convenience to recordersâ.
National Fungus Day, 6 & 7 October 2019.
Lots of events planned across the country.
A good one for a fungal foray
Dolebury Warren. Nowadays it is not safe to give locations as foragers for exotics are causing havoc.
See https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/11/22/police-hunt-thief-stole-rare-mushroom-said-alleviate-symptoms/