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Dr Adrian Colston

@dartmoorac.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.6K following 394 posts

Self-employed ecologist and a rural social scientist worrying about Dartmoor: wildlife, hill-farmers, archaeology, peat & wilding. Also Associate Research Fellow Centre for Rural Policy Research at the University of Exeter And Scilly!

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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Glossy Ibis on St Mary's today
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Few common birds around St Mary's today and yesterday: Med Gulls - 1st and 2nd winters, Grey Wagtail, Song Thrush and a Stock Dove
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
St Agnes today: Red-backed Shrike, Pied Flycatcher and Wheatear
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Sunny day on the Isles of Scilly yesterday - good numbers of Clouded Yellow, Red Admirals, Common Darters and Hummingbird Hawkmoths
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Belted Galloways in the gorse and a rowan with berries on Gidleigh Common
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
What a beast - Great Green Bush-cricket - West Cornwall today
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Dartmoor Grazing & Land Trials | Dartmoor Land Use Management Group | Introduction www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Nb...
youtube.com
Dartmoor Grazing & Land Trials | DLUMG | Introduction
YouTube video by Dartmoor Grazing & Land Management Trials
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Strange buzzing noise in the kitchen this morning. - turned out to be a European Hornet stuck inside an empty can of cider ..... safely transferred to the garden for liberation!
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Very sorry to see that my cousin Mark Walter is having a very difficult time with bluetongue and sadly he is not alone - good luck all www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Devon farmer has vaccinated 1,700 sheep for bluetongue
Deputy chief veterinary officer says warm weather is providing perfect conditions for midges.
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
www.themoorlander.co.uk/news/dartmoo...
themoorlander.co.uk
Dartmoor farmer warns of ‘perfect storm’ as bluetongue reaches Devon
Local farmer Mat Cole has spoken to The Moorlander about the impact of bluetongue on livestock, farming businesses and mental health as confirmed UK cases continue to rise
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
The fifth heatwave this summer has really cleared my garden of insects but a few still remain - maybe the others are waiting for cooler day! Field Grasshopper, Forest Shieldbug and Common Blue butterfly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
This is a Southern Oak Bush-cricket on a light fitting in my dining room! Originally a Mediterranean species first recorded in Britain in 2001. It has been recorded in Devon before but is a first for me. An apt find on such a scorching day ......
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Good crowds up at the DevonandExeter SRC for the eclipse, lots of new colanders and really pleased with my SeeStar S30 - brought it all to life
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
SFI MOR1 survey of Okehampton Common completed for 2026. Last sites around Yes Tor - including encouraging amounts of heather and bilberry #Dartmoor
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
The steep valley and stream that runs into the south side of Meldon Reservoir. SFI MOR1 and then the rain came and I got properly soaked! 4 sites still left to do tomorrow as a result. #Dartmoor
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Another day on Okehampton Common SFI MOR1 - up the West Okement towards Fur Tor, Black a Tor copse from Black Tor and High Willhays …. Achy legs
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Back in the 1990s was part of a Bill Oddie Goes Wild film about Wicken Fen - he was a joy to work with and produced a film with @StephenMoss_TV that was honest, fun and accurate. He was also a birder and visited Scilly - this book inspired us all. RIP
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
www.gov.uk/government/n...
gov.uk
Government secures the future of Dartmoor’s iconic ponies
New measures will protect Dartmoor ponies and support those who keep them on the moor.
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Finally managed to photograph a Brown Hairstreak in my garden this year - they are very secretive!
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Gatekeeper in the garden today
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Common Blue butterfly in the garden yesterday
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Some fairly extensive areas of dead heather on Okehampton Common - up the hill from the camp - we really, really need a better understanding of the impact of heather beetle in a world of climate change and atmospheric nitrogen pollution - one step forward and two steps back?
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
We killed two birds with one stone - Dench's birthday today and mine tomorrow so a lovely meal in the sun with a few beers at the Passage in Topsham with Mike's family
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
South West highest risk for tick bites and Lyme disease - report
A 2025 report confirmed there were 281 laboratory-confirmed acute Lyme disease cases in the region.
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Silver-washed Fritillary in the garden this afternoon
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Marbled White in the garden yesterday
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
This hot weather coming up from the south has brought in some migrant butterflies and moths- Painted Lady and Humming bird Hawk-moth
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
theconversation.com/claims-of-da...
theconversation.com
Claims of Dartmoor pony cull reignite row over how to save Britain’s moorlands
Semi-wild ponies are valuable for habitat restoration, yet policy changes may threaten their survival.
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
My first Meadow Brown of the year in my garden this morning
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Emsworthy on Dartmoor - bluebells, cuckoos and redstarts
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Hill-farmer attitudes to the peatland restoration works on the Commons of Dartmoor adriancolston.wordpress.com/2026/05/06/h...
adriancolston.wordpress.com
Hill-farmer attitudes to the peatland restoration works on the Commons of Dartmoor
A research piece carried out on behalf of the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association and the South West Peatland Partnership
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Molinia management on Dartmoor - two case studies Down Ridge and Tavy Head South In partnership with the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association, with financial assistance from the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) grant scheme adriancolston.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/m...
adriancolston.wordpress.com
Molinia management on Dartmoor – two case studies Down Ridge and Tavy Head South
In partnership with the Forest of Dartmoor Commoners Association, with financial assistance from the Farming in Protected Landscape (FiPL) grant scheme Molinia management on Dartmoor – final …
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
Nice unexpected start to the day - 7 Black-winged Stilt on Porth Coose beach this morning St Agnes #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Dozens and dozens of Painted Ladies and Silver Ys on St Agnes today - all fresh in
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Oystercatchers, Whimbrel and Swallows St Agnes #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
So sad that it is now so exciting to find a Turtle Dove .... one of my favourite birds ....St Agnes #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Waxing crescent moon over St Agnes tonight #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Despite today's windy conditions the birding has been good, including a Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail, plenty of Swallows and a Whimbrel St Agnes #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
The M51 Whirlpool galaxy taken with my Seestar 30 from St Agnes #islesofscilly last night
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Small Copper on St Agnes today #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Fulmars on St Agnes #islesofscilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
A few bits and pieces from yesterday here on St Agnes, #islesofscilly Wheatear, Goldfinches, male Stonechat and a Painted Lady
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
C32 Whale nebula
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Female Stonechat, Dunnock, Robin and Wren #islesofscilly #stagnes
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Very few migrant birds at the moment but gannet, herring gull, linnet and starling are common #islesofscilly #stagnes
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
American Wigeon at Porth Hellick yesterday on St Mary's Isles of Scilly
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
After 10 hours travelling and waiting for a boat - we have arrived #islesofscilly #stagnes
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
The most common insect in my garden at the moment is the Sloe Shieldbug - over 100 of them ....
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
Farming Today with the Dartmoor photographer Chris Chaman www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Farming Today - 06/04/26 Fifty Years of Photographing Farmers - BBC Sounds
Photographing the changing face of agriculture over fifty years.
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Dr Adrian Colston @dartmoorac.bsky.social · 05/04/2026
What an excellent film www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
bbc.co.uk
My Garden of a Thousand Bees
Wildlife film-maker Martin Dohrn is bee obsessed. He has found over 60 species in his Bristol garden and sets out to film them, with mind-blowing results.
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