Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Scuffed up a dodgy couple of lifers this evening in the Stafford edgelands: Malus sylvestris outside the MedEquip depot, and Symphoricarpos orbiculatus alongside an abandoned road. Maybe the apple isn’t glabrous enough, but I’m ‘avin it, unless wiser heads out there think otherwise? 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 12/09/2026Fizztastic weekend fence judging at Cornbury House Horse Trials in deepest Oxfordshire. Very classy event, excellent attention to detail, best packed lunches ever, some top riders competing. Unexpected bonus collateral a lifer: Clouded Yellow, landing on the short turf briefly then flitting past us 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 03/09/2026All dressaged out after Thursday at Burghley Horse Trials - and still another day of the dressage phase to go. Live on the big screen, live in the arena, then back to our accommodation to watch it all over again on the excellent burghley.tv…🙄 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Slumped on the garden recliner on a cloudy warm Friday afternoon, eyes closed after listening to Haydn’s B flat string quartet op.50 no.1 through the headphones, in a state of heady bliss (idleness + magical music + the day’s first glass of wine) When Suddenly - a tickling upon my knee #teammoth 080
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Taking a break from my fictional feisty young Californian blondes (Veronica Mars, Buffy Summers) to binge ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Scott Pilgrim’ - and, well…. I wish I liked them more…. Comments in ALT 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/08/2026A few other bits and pieces from my five-hour trudge under the merciless sun round lower Apedale and the Knutton edgelands. Tentative IDs, please correct! The Common Fleabane’s specially for you @sj84turner.bsky.social ! 330
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Water-boatman somewhat out of context. For full story see ALT text 030
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/08/2026Volucella inanis on Tansy, a belated lifer 160
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 19/07/2026Unexpected bonus on WeBS count @btobirds.bsky.social at Silverdale CP this a.m. in the shape of two Common Terns arriving calling from W 0952, flew around lake and attempted to fish then left >SE 0956. Only my second record here @staffsbirdnews.bsky.social 141
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 04/07/2026A proper full day’s cross country fence-judging at the remarkably revamped Bradwall Manor Horse Trials: 290+ competitors across 3 classes with a smattering of stars (including Oli Townend), start 9:30, finish about 7:15. A long while since I’ve entered a time starting 19 on the scoresheet! #eventing 000
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Delightfully unkempt lower Apedale in the evening sun - with, in the background, a ‘big box’ looking as intrusive unnatural and inexpressive an artefact as the monolith in ‘2001’ 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/07/2026Just an hour’s evening stroll round a not particularly special* local spot, but nice to see ‘lots’ of nature: masses of Tufted Vetch, Meadow Vetchling everywhere, in any sunny spot Small Skippers, Ringlets and Meadow Browns flitting about. Plus Field Scabious, Zigzag Clover, Wild Carrot 110
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 28/06/2026New Zealand Pigmyweed on a small pond on Apedale Country Park, Staffs #InvasivePlants #Wildflowerhour 0172
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 21/06/2026Sawfly (Tenthredo sp) on Wild Carrot, Burleyfields, Staffordshire #PollinatorPals #wildflowerhour 0101
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 14/06/2026Chimney Sweepers and Yellow Shells fluttering up in the field enlivening the routine dog walk this grey warm June afternoon 220
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 23/05/2026Today’s top oddity - Red-hot Poker on the edge of a field at least a quarter of a mile from any garden! 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 23/05/2026Today’s top highlight - Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis, a longhorn and new to me! On comfrey at the yard 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 17/05/2026Rubbish photos but the teeniest #tinyplants I’ve seen lately: Wall Speedwell Veronica arvensis with my favourite ballpoint for scale #wildflowerhour 0111
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 11/05/2026Different perspectives on ‘good’ records; Small-flowered Crane’s-bill was my standout Plant Of The Day, being a lifer and all. However it was the Great Lettuce which set excited little coloured text alerts jingling when I entered it on the @bsbibotany.bsky.social app, being apparently new for SJ75! 5120
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 11/05/2026My new favourite circular walk on the south side of Crewe. But this is ‘rescue naturespotting’: all the white on the map east of the railway, between Weston Road to the north and Weston Lane to the south, will soon be covered in housing, commercial units, ‘big box logistics’ and the like. 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Froghoppers and fence-hoppers: it’s been that sort of a weekend! More, possibly, later 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Vetches outside Crewe yesterday #carrotsandpeas #wildflowerhour 0252
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Canis lupus familiaris var.”Ruby”. Synonyms: Roo-roo, Snurgles, The Damned Dog etc. Easily identified by ‘pogoing’ behaviour prior to food, walkies. Obligate kibblevore. Distribution: only known from one location in N.Staffs 120
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 07/05/2026‘Feta, Feta and Blame Me’ is apparently a well-known wildflower book, according to the closed captions on a YouTube video I’m watching 😂 000
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 06/05/2026The Law of Negative Effort in operation: stuck at the yard for an hour or so this afternoon, mooching about bored in a place I know like the back of my hand and - bingo! Two lifers, how’ve I missed them before? Oh and a soaring Hobby, year tick. Less purposeful naturespotting, more idle mooching! 030
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 05/05/2026Library team awayday at Yarnfield conference centre, formerly a Post Office/BT training centre and late 60s gem. Highlight apart from my wife’s yummy chocolate cake was a striking and photogenic water tower 000
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 05/05/2026A few more mini-beasts from Newcastle Cemetery the other day 030
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 05/05/2026It’s hot in the village, hot in the village tonight…. 011
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 03/05/2026Bulbous buttercup in hospital grounds Stafford #buttercupchallenge #wildflowerhour 1251
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/05/2026Put last year’s bee hotel out the other day as an afterthought and not sure it was a good idea. Never seen anything like this. I think Osmia bicornis is in the mix but there’s a bigger sp with orange abdomen and smaller black ones with stripy purply-iridescent abdomens. Bees defeat me, let me go 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 26/04/2026A free Sunday, lovely weather, what to do? Why, prowl a municipal cemetery looking for ladybirds, of course! No luck with Eyed, though. Thanks @sj84turner.bsky.social for the gen! 291
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 26/04/2026Toshiyuki Tanaka the Japanese Olympic rider and Jefferson JRA going clear at the water on the 3 star cross-country at Kelsall Hill. Makes it look easy #eventing #crosscountry #itskelsallhill 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 26/04/2026Zara Tindall and Classicals Euro Star showjumping at Kelsall Hill on Saturday. Not quite perfect - jumping clear but with 0.8 time faults #eventing #showjumping #itskelsallhill 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 24/04/2026Filling haynets at 06:30, surprised to hear Grasshopper Warbler starting to reel vigorously from nearby hedge. Yard tick! - my first here in 13 years 030
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Hanchurch Woods was a bust this evening despite the lovely weather: found only 1 (Garden Warbler) of my 4 target bird year-ticks. Two Dark-edged Bee-flies (not pictured, flighty beasts) and a False Puffball (my first and hitherto only slime mould) were some compensation 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 23/04/2026More golden loveliness from the (other) hospital grounds this lunchtime: American Winter-cress and Bulbous Buttercup 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Sunken lane next to the hospital offered lots of insects basking on leaves out of the wind this lunchtime. Nomada sp. and host Andrena scotica, at least four species of hoverflies, and three Speckled Woods whirling furiously round including this battered specimen 010
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Very pleased to make it to 1,000 species on PSL, onward and upward! And nice that no.1000 is the handsome hoverfly Epistrophe eligans @panspecieslisting.bsky.social 151
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 13/04/2026Belated #WoodlandPlants for #wildflowerhour: Wood Anemone and Wood-sorrel both from Staffs Wildlife Trust reserves @staffswildlife.bsky.social 080
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 12/04/2026A good afternoon session from Alsager Mill to Lower Foxley and back. Five year ticks included Wheatears (7), Yellow Wagtail and Willow Warbler. Unexpected Wood Anemones, ubiquitous Greater Stitchwort, and only my second Orange-tailed Mining Bee. Female Dung Flies everywhere on Dandelions. 020
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 02/04/2026After work visit to George’s Hayes SWT for the wild daffodils and others on a pleasant grey April evening @staffswildlife.bsky.social 140
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 29/03/2026Finally seen my first ever Otter!! At Leighton Moss, swanning around in the midst of the water off Lilian’s Hide. That’s two new mammals for me this year already and not even trying 030
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Belated Christmas gift from my wife which arrived yesterday. A phenomenal and comprehensive achievement, thank you @graemelyons.bsky.social! Recommended to naturalists of any stripe or hue 081
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Picked up usual range of freebies and other bits at the Staffs Invertebrates day 😀 040
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 07/03/2026Quick twitch to Westport for the Scoter before heading off to Meir for the inverts bash… Joined the Friends of Lyme Brook and gawped at teeny tiny mayfly larvae and freshwater shrimps 160
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 22/02/2026We go again. Eristalis tenax today on dandelion 000
Jonathan Hutchins @jvphutchins.bsky.social · 10/01/2026Starling murmuration over Silverdale this afternoon #staffsbirdnews 071