iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

#WildflowerHour #FavouritePlant Possibly my favourite flower of 2026 are these variants of Water Avens. I found several in woods at Pickering, N. Yorkshire. @whitbynats.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

2969

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Common Emerald Damselfly and Southern Hawker seen in Harwood Dale, N. Yorkshire today. @whitbynats.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

042

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Following up with 'Delusions of grandeur' from Wild Beer. At 20% it's probably a good job it only comes in smaller bottles. Happy birthday to me!

160

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Happy 60th birthday to me! Thought I'd celebrate with a glass of Goose Island bourbon-barrel aged stout from 2018. Only 15.2%!

260

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A couple more Migrant Hawker pics from Arnside Knott today. There were lots about, but most wouldn't land within camera range. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

0161

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I had a great day at Arnside Knott looking for Brown Hairstreak butterflies. I found 4, all on a large area of Hemp Agrimony. Once they were feeding, they were quite relaxed about my poking a camera lens at them! @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

0254

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I found this Migrant Hawker at Arnside Knott today, and since it stayed put when I approached, I decided to get in for a close-up. @nationaltrust.org.uk @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

0131

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Roosting Adonis, Chalkhill, and Common Blues (plus a very worn Dingy Skipper) from Aston Rowant, taken before sunset on Sunday, then sunrise on Monday. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

0152

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Second brood Wood Whites at Bucknell Wood, Silverstone, on Sunday. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

071

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Wood White, 2nd brood, from Bucknell Wood on Sunday. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

050

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Lots of butterflies at Harwood Dale Forest on Friday, with Comma, Holly Blue, Painted Lady, Peacock, and Red Admiral seen. I had to work to get decent photos as they were very active in the heat! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @whitbynats.bsky.social

070

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Black Darter, Four-spotted Chaser, and Common Emerald Damselfly seen at Harwood Dale pond on Friday. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

030

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Common Centaury. Lots along the rides at Harwood Dale Forest, N. Yorkshire. @whitbynats.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

0102

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

This gorgeous poppy has self-seeded in my garden. I'll definitely be saving the seed heads!

020

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Despite it being so common, I have very few photos of Large White. This is a nice fresh individual seen yesterday at Pickering. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @whitbynats.bsky.social

060

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

After Monday's really tatty Painted Lady it was nice to see some pristine ones at Pickering yesterday. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @whitbynats.bsky.social

091

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

I always think that the dark border around a Peacock's wings make it look like it's been superimposed over the background. One of many seen yesterday at Pickering, N. Yorkshire. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @whitbynats.bsky.social

1121

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

A few Graylings from the limestone pavements on Whitbarrow, Cumbria. @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0324

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Broad-bodied Chaser, an 'over-mature' female seen today at Howe Ridding Woods, Cumbria. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

060

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Is this the tattiest Painted Lady in the UK? Seen today in Howe Ridding Woods, Cumbria. There were some fresh ones about too, but naturally I couldn't get near them! @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

020

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Marbled White close-up, taken early this morning at Yatts Farm, Pickering. A stack of 26 images. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @whitbynats.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

1182

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Female Marbled White seen this morning at Yatts Farm, Pickering. This is a stack of 52 images. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @whitbynats.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

1223

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Some Marbled White focus stacks taken this morning at Yatts Farm, Pickering, before they warmed up! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @whitbynats.bsky.social

0312

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

A few Bee Orchids seen on Friday at May Beck, N. Yorkshire. They've greatly increased in number here compared to previous years, and I counted 29 where I'd never seen them before. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @whitbybotanist.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

1192

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Large and Small Heath butterflies, and Golden-ringed Dragonfly from Fen Bog NR, N. Yorkshire, yesterday evening. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

0243

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries at Commondale, N. Yorkshire this afternoon. Two seen, both freshly emerged! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0151

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Four-spotted Chaser on his favourite perch! Sunday at Whixall Moss NNR, where I bumped in to @steb77.bsky.social who was kind enough to share his extensive knowledge of the site. We couldn't find White-faced Darter though! @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

150

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Some more Silver-studded Blues, seen at Prees Heath Common. I visited late evening & early morning to catch them roosting, then again in the afternoon when they were active (and more difficult to photograph!). @savebutterflies.bsky.social

1352

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

A couple of Silver-studded Blues from Prees Heath Common in the golden hour yesterday evening. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

080

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Four different pseudo-peloric Water Avens seen in Pickering Woods today. They turn up quite regularly in these woods. The first 2 photos are from the same plant. One stem looked like the leaves had become petal-like. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @whitbybotanist.bsky.social @botanicalmartin.bsky.social

0163

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Longhorn Beetles from Pickering Woods today. Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn, Wasp Beetle, Spotted Longhorn, and Black-striped Longhorn. @northyorkmoors.org.uk

0203

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Duke of Burgundy seen this morning near Hawnby, N. Yorkshire, at a site where it hasn't been recorded since 2019! If you look closely, you can see the vestigial front legs on this male. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

1334

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Duke of Burgundy seen in Pickering Woods yesterday, at a site where we've carried out a lot of habitat management work They're just starting to emerge on this N. facing site and numbers are already higher than last year. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

3838

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Fasciated Water Avens seen in Pickering Woods, N. Yorkshire today. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @whitbybotanist.bsky.social

1151

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Two Common Lizards seen today in Pickering Woods, N. Yorkshire. @northyorkmoors.org.uk @arc-trust.bsky.social

070

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Female Orange-tip in my garden yesterday morning. I'm hoping she's laid some eggs! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

080

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A very blue female Common Blue seen yesterday at Twyford Woods, Lincolnshire. The forewings had an iridescent violet sheen to them. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0141

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Grizzled Skippers, seen yesterday at Twyford Woods, Lincolnshire. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0161

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Immature male Broad-bodied Chaser seen in N. Yorkshire on Monday. @northyorkmoors.org.uk

070

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Two of Yorkshire's rarest butterflies, the Pearl-bordered Fritillary and the Duke of Burgundy, as well as the rather less scarce Speckled Wood, all seen yesterday. @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @northyorkmoors.org.uk

0180

Dave O'Brien @daveob66.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

I saw my first Speckled Wood 20 years ago in Stockton-on-Tees when it was quite a rarity in the north-east. What a pleasure it is to now have them breeding in my Middlesbrough garden! @bcyorkshire.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

0161