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Chris Foster

@chrisfoster.bsky.social
435 followers 368 following 360 posts

The twit formerly known as hatbirder. Insects, birds, etc. Lecturer in ecology / entomology at University of Reading. See also @carabidaeuk.bsky.social.

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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Wild grown Quercus robur and meadow ant mounds on the University of Reading campus in an area left unmanaged since 2019. This being mostly a landscaped park we also have an area with Quercus robur, palustris and ilex saplings popping up alongside each other 🤷 Two hobbies over calling, fantastic.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Plenty of bees both Ivy and Honey but flies and wasps feel very thin on the ground this flowering ivy season
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The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) @themerl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
we literally have a Bayeux Tapestry at home www.readingmuseum.org.uk/bayeux-tapes...
readingmuseum.org.uk
Britain's Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the world’s most famous pieces of medieval art. It is 70 metres long, and chronicles the legendary tale of the Norman conquest of England, when William the Conqueror inva...
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Dr Thomas Clements @taphonomist.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This week we had a brilliant 175th birthday party for the official mascot of the @colezoology.bsky.social - Norman the Asian Elephant. An ex-circus elephant, Norman died in 1867, and was bought by the University in 1921 for the price of £30! Happy birthday Norman! 🎉🎁🐘🎂
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Richard K Broughton @richardkbroughton.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Far-right domestic terrorists closing down a lifeboat station is no the big enough news story that it ought to be.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
A poem
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Apparently I missed my calling in life
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Yarrow: "what drought?"
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Ok that's enough summer this year thanks bye.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
2019: climate emergency 2022: climate dread 2026: climate despair
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Pleased with this portrait of the bug Liorhyssus hyalinus, with eggs, in our garden this evening. Another species new to me elsewhere locally in the last week or two.
A side on view of a yellowish bug with striped sides to its abdomen sitting on a faded composite flower head with a cluster of red eggs.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
My first Comfrey Ermine a few mins walk from home at the weekend, first for the garden briefly resting on our out of control sage this evening. What a splendid little animal.
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Steve Dudley @stevedudley.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
As climate change impacts accelerate, these peatland areas continue to dry out during heatwaves. Why? Because they’re not wet enough. Wet peat doesn’t burn. I’ve just returned from a week staying on the best managed upland estate I’ve ever seen. Everywhere was damp or oozing wet. In mid-July.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
So much for the rain. It wasn't going to be enough anyway.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Presumably these just keep growing back so you don't need to buy another packet
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
My Salvia brings all the bees to my yard
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
"Will there be a drought". I don't know. Are bears Catholic?
theguardian.com
How can I water my garden in a hosepipe ban and will there be drought this summer?
Millions of people in southern England and parts of Wales face restrictions after prolonged periods of hot weather
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Finally a nice temperature in the middle of the day. Now for some rain please 😫
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Now with additional extraordinary, average air temperature for July running a whole 5 degrees above the 1991 - 2020 average for Reading
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Daily forecasts two weeks out aren't really worth much but it's nonetheless alarming to see 7 of the next 14 days on the BBC weather app at 30+, and the rest with highs of 28 or 29. Some tentative signs of rain at least but unlikely enough and damp with 28+ will feel super sticky #doomed
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
I can't believe anyone actually likes this weather. They're either lying to themselves or everyone else.
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Reading Entomology @unirdgento.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
For Reading area folk, the film 'The Little Things That Run The World' is showing at Reading Biscuit Factory next Tuesday, followed by a panel discussion featuring our very own @chrisfoster.bsky.social. Come for the bug pix, stay for the bug chat! www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/movie/ttr-pr...
readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk
TTR presents The Little Things That Run the World + Short Film + Panel Discussion
In collaboration with Transition Town Reading, as part of Reading Climate Festival, RBF presents a special documentary screening of The Little Things That Run the World. The Little Things that Ru...
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Shaping up to be the most extraordinary run of warm months as recorded on the @unirdg-met.bsky.social field station.
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Ground Beetle Recording Scheme @carabidaeuk.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
A cluster of records for Polistichus connexus from the June heatwave, increasingly common at light on hot nights (usually see egg boxes or moth scales in the record images!) 2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest. 📸Stephen French via iRecord
A map of the UK showing the distribution of the ground beetle Polistichus connexus in the UK. Records are clustered in the southeast of England, with newer records appearing throughout its range but showing a northward expansion in the last 5 to 6 years. The Ground Beetle Polistichus connexus, a brown beetle with orange legs and antennae, a narrow thorax and a single brighter orange patch at the centre of each dark brown wing case.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Best approach to today honestly
A white and tabby cat sprawled on a red rug
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
I thought we might become climate refugees in a decade or so but actually how about by Tuesday?
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Uh oh, public evidence of my secret shame (playing the banjo) 😜 But seriously, playing good music with talented friends is such a delight and a perfect distraction from all the things youtu.be/iMFKJMgUzbY?...
youtu.be
First full gig!!! Wisdom Crosses Oceans
YouTube video by The Riverside Union
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Excellent day out in the New Forest with @unirdgento.bsky.social students yesterday. Lots of nice finds including Golden-haired Longhorn (Leptura aurulenta), something of an old oak specialist.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
One quick answer would be that it's not a question of balance. No biodiversity, no food!
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Ugh (from the University of Reading Met observatory @unirdg-met.bsky.social )
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
33 and 34 forecast here next two days and some local geniuses are busy cutting their lawns nice and short to make doubly sure they turn brown.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Splendid evening walk from home yesterday turned up two Grasshopper Warblers reeling, roding Woodcock, juv. Tawny Owls and a Cuckoo on the night shift calling after dark.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
So are April or May droughts with dry easterly winds an annual thing now? Doesn't feel long since the last one anyway.
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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
Are you passionate about #InsectScience and looking to build a career in the field? You're in luck! We've got a list of UK and Ireland institutions offering entomological courses. Explore your options today 🔽 buff.ly/RFnYfHB 📸 Green bottle fly Lucilia sp. (c) Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb
buff.ly
Entomology courses - Royal Entomological Society
Interested in studying Entomology? We have compiled a list of institutions in the UK and in Ireland offering full and part time entomologically-related courses, such as undergraduate, postgraduate…
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Many things waking up in the neighborhood today.
A soggy Green Shieldbug rescued from a bucket of water, springtails climbed aboard to hitch a ride out too! Scarlet Tiger caterpillar - a black bristly caterpillar with a yellow and blue stripe down the centre A hedgehog picked out by phone light on the pavement
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Distractions while finally catching up with some winter pruning in the garden.
Hazel catkins with blurred suburban garden beyondMale hazel flower - delicate deep pink star emerging from a brown bud7-spot Ladybird starting to wake up in the mild weather White-lipped Snail quickly tucking their head in - no photos, please!
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
For local folk I'll be talking @carabidaeuk.bsky.social at Kintbury Wildlife Group tomorrow, 7:30pm 🪲https://kintburywildlife.co.uk/Current-programme.html. If I'm organised enough might have some specimens to look at...possibly live ones too!
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Final January total for birds seen on foot from home stands at 69, Buzzard finally showed up yesterday (three at once). Strong start to the month was followed by endless rain and the fact my workplace is not realistically close enough to walk to! #footit @footit.bsky.social
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Spot the birder who can't read or thinks their views or photographs outweigh bird welfare
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Erica McAlister @flygirlnhm.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Wonderful afternoon with @unirdgento.bsky.social students, @chrisfoster.bsky.social & @wetconservatrix.bsky.social from @uniofreading.bsky.social The @nhm-london.bsky.social has joined forces with the teaching & the @royentsoc.bsky.social are providing financial support (👋@simon2ward.bsky.social )
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
Specially for @kitenet.bsky.social here at last is a picture of me with ground beetle! More to come later to see which you like best 😆
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Happy Burns Night! With thanks for Scotland and her fine culture, food and drink. Not my home country but I feel at home whenever we go 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🥃
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
A slow @rspb.bsky.social garden birdwatch. 3 Feral Pigeon (strictly speaking these were on the roof, not in the garden), 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Woodpigeon. Benny the cat may have seen something we missed but he'll never tell....
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Poor urban foxes, always being vilified by the press
Newspaper photo of a fox sleeping above the headline 'Sex pest failed to turn up in court'
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
On the major plus side, here's our local Starling roost. They may only count once for #footit but I feel mega abundance should get bonus points....Great White Egret flying through and a very overdue first Grey Heron of the year make it 54 species on foot since January 1st.
A large flock of Starlings against a dark blue sky with silhouettes of trees in the foreground A large flock of Starlings against a dark blue sky with silhouettes of trees in the foreground
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 10/01/2026
My favourite scrubby accidental 'wilding' field for spring warblers in the middle of Newbury has fallen victim to a 'conservation' project. I will enquire about the intended replacement but I can't imagine it being an improvement on what was a nice mosaic of scrub, small trees and tall grassland.
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Cetti's Warbler, Little Egret roosting and a flyover pair of Goosanders (another fine patch tick) make 52 species for #footit @footit.bsky.social
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Another delightfully wintry day. Somebody forgot to order a white Christmas so we got a white Epiphany instead! Went out for just 15 minutes and 4 Snipe dropped into the (very ordinary) field nearest our house for #footit 49. Meanwhile the cat continues to enjoy walking across the garden pond 🙃
A domestic cat on a red harness and lead walks across a small snow-covered frozen garden pond. A snow covered canal and towpath with rows of trees on either sideA garden holly bush with plenty of red berries and a dusting of snow
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I can confirm my face is both smug and self-righteous 😂
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Chris Foster @chrisfoster.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
A distractingly beautiful morning meant I couldn't resist a much longer walk from home than planned. Siskins *everywhere* glowing in the low sun. Lapwing and Golden Plover flocks going over bring #footit total to 47 species.
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