Eleanor Morrison

A very smart spider Micaria pulicaria at Holkham @BritishSpiders

A 'mega-roost' of Stock Doves has been recorded in western France – a figure that is believed to be a national record for an autumn or winter roost of this species: bit.ly/4k9QDf1

A freshly dead White-tailed Eagle washed ashore on Hoy this week, & I was given the chance to see it. I was able to age it as a full juvenile, & found that it had been contaminated by Fulmar oil, a likely factor in its demise. An impressive beast, with incredible feet & claws!

Another great nesting season for the Holkham Spoonbills, 41 pairs averaging 2 juveniles per pair. It's now the 15th year of nesting, and in that time some 748 juveniles have fledged. Been a privilege and a joy to have monitored them there since they began prospecting in 2004 !

Is this the greatest wildlife photo I will ever take with my phone? Quite possibly! Wasp Spider and the incredibly showy Black Stork at RSPB Boyton Marshes this morning @Natures_Voice @BBCSpringwatch

Ancient Beak Discovery Links Kent’s Red-Billed Choughs to Anglo-Saxon Past rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Anc…

Here’s the video of the Porthgwarra, Cornwall Soft-plumaged Petrel on 13 July 2025. Originally found by John Foster at Coverack it was picked up at Porthgwarra by Steve Rogers and also seen there by myself, Pete Clement, Graham Lawlor and John Ryan.

Three gulls and an island On Scotland's Isle of May new research reveals how Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls divide their feeding grounds rarebirdalert.co.uk/v2/Content/Thr…

A Bittern has been showing at Cley NWT for the past two days. Mostly rather unpredictably and briefly in flight, but out in the open too if you've been lucky.

Lots of arachnids about in the dunes at @RSPBTitchwell yesterday. Highlights included a lovely sand dune jumper (Marpissa nivoyi), sand bears (Arctosa perita) of all sizes, and some marram grass chelifers (Dactylochelifer latreillii). @BritishSpiders

I have always dreamed of seeing a Dwarf Bittern. They are tiny - just 130g, and they are very shy and elusive. We saw this one at Kenema Rice Fields in Sierra Leone. Luckily it decided to pay us a closer visit! What an amazing bird❤️.

Found this little beauty ‘hibernating’ in the leaves! #queenwasp. Look how she tucks her wings under her abdomen. She is NOT a pest! She is #freepestcontrol if she survives & makes a nest. And a #pollinator! Tucked her back up safely. Her lifecycle is v similar to #bumblebees.

Yesterday's resplendent drake Smew duo at Ravensthorpe Res. Unfortunately no sign of them today. @BirdGuides #Northantsbirds

A brilliant bit of woodland in East Cornwall today gave some really fantastic records. Incredible start - this Philodromus margaritatus was in the second sample of very un-lichen covered oak foliage. Wasn't even the highlight of the day! @BritishSpiders @cofnod @graemelyons

Set out on an adventure to find a spider special for a Saturday..... and I did. The brilliant sand dune jumping spider. Marpissa nivoyi. @NHarnser @chalkspring @BritishSpiders

I really enjoyed spending time observing Drassodes lapidosus amongst the shingle and under large stones at Cley beach and along to Blakeney Point a couple of weeks ago. Vegetated shingle is a great habitat for spiders, with several interesting species present. @NorfolkNats

@andydouglas1967 @graemelyons @shreyasknv @BritishSpiders @cofnod I've not encountered this yet, although as with a lot of these spiders I imagine it's more common than we think and just under recorded - will be interested to see if you identify any more.

I'm so grateful for all the guidance and support I've received from other passionate arachnologists and naturalists in the county, and it's been a joy learning from them. Norfolk is home to some incredible species and I can't wait to begin this work! Exciting times ahead...

Good afternoon Twitter friends, I'm thrilled to announce that I will be taking on the role of county recorder for spiders in Norfolk for @NorfolkNats. Spiders have always interested me, but they've become the centre of my life over the last couple of years.