Martin Raper

In today’s @thetimes - one of the 8 secrets to ‘staying young’ 🏃‍♀️

@devisridhar Porridge every other day for years. I'm 81 so far.😋

I’m a late convert but porridge is such a great way to start the day. Multiple health benefits plus delicious with fruit & honey independent.co.uk/life-style/foo…

@BflyRobin I only have 2 OT larvae and never had so much Garlic Mustard. Not found on Dames Violet or Honesty. Don't know why

@mgtr8 Any idea why Martin? My garden is FULL of garlic mustard, but not too many Orange Tip caterpillars.

This year in my garden, I have noticed that Orange Tips have had more success on Dame's Violet, rather than Garlic Mustard

Came across 10 Wood Tiger Moths at Lankham Bottom today (phone pic)

@BflyRobin @nationaltrust Oh deary me !😳

Good day at Montacute @nationaltrust but why was it necessary to spray all these nettles?

@BflyRobin way ?

An extremely quiet Fontmell Down today, as the road is closed. But intrepid butterfly walkers have to find a

@domgreves Is it Tubifex ? Used to feed it to my tropical fish.

It moves in a most alluring, but slightly disturbing manner...

What the heck is this? And should it be growing in my local (heavily polluted) West Sussex stream? 💩👽 @SussexWildlife @SussexFlow @theriverstrust @EnvAgency

@domgreves @SussexWildlife @KneppSafaris One in my moth trap this morning🐝

European Hornet flexing its wings at nest entrance. Found on the Knepp Estate this week. @SussexWildlife @KneppSafaris

@WaspWoman @ConversationUK @bigwaspsurvey Few wasps my garden DT8. Result - Large White larvae unmolested this year.

Where are wasps this year? 2021’s cold, wet spring has made it a tough year for UK wasps. Absence of wasps may be good for BBQs but means other insect pests lack key predators. Have you seen many wasps this summer? Tell us! @ConversationUK theconversation.com/why-wasps-beco… @bigwaspsurvey

@Bexbirder @DorsetBirdClub Oh dear, and I chose to visit Cogden beach that day🙄

Alan and I have just found our second patch Red-backed Shrike of the year. This one near the entrance to the DWT reserve. Plenty of common migrants this morning too including nearly 50 Wheatears and 15 Whinchats across West Bex & Cogden. @DorsetBirdClub

It appears I caught a Dog's Tooth moth last night. New one for the garden ! #Teammoth

@JWentomologist I have a batch of these larvae raised from eggs. They are sleeved on my Poplar but still green and black

Three Privet Hawkmoths, three Small Elephant Hawkmoths and one Poplar Hawkmoth in last night's trap. Privets FFY

@MatthewOates76 My poplar seeded for first time in it's 4 years. I wondered why.

#wildflowerhour Prolific flowering of most sallows & poplars this year, ? stimulated by last early August's heatwave. Seed everywhere this week...

@BflyRobin I've never been to the Common, yet

Lydlinch Common looking lovely this morning. Coffee at Green Man Kings Stag after. Excellent day.

Striped Hawk-moth last night in my trap at Beaminster @MigrantMothUK

@kevin_parr @Bexbirder @AJBbirder @DorsetBirdClub @ornisobscura @NotQuiteScilly I have daily 3 or 4 on feeders April May, still, outside my window in Beaminster garden.

Sitting in garden and regularly hearing siskin seeping high up heading south. Occasionally see them here (used to nest in the conifer plantation I’m told) but seems like a movement. Anyone else picking them up? @Bexbirder @AJBbirder @DorsetBirdClub @ornisobscura @NotQuiteScilly

Several of my homegrown Mullein Moth hatched out from the peat today. It was last June when 30 large caterpillars disappeared down into it.

@OilBeetlesUK Thank you but puzzled to where it came from. Found up on front door step. Few hours before, Waitrose food put crates on doorstep for 5 minutes ! I'll put more pics up with record. Shame it's a male.

@mgtr8 And if you have any more pictures of the beetle, attach them when you submit the record. Has the look of Black but be good to see more images just to be 100% certain as Violet Oil Beetle is very similar.

Could anyone ID this beetle for me ? Don't think seen before in my Dorset garden. Oil ?