Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Us too, but we chatted to an interesting group of German reenacted, hung-over from exertions at Battle over weekend. Choughs ever-present. 110 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 13/10/2026A surprising discovery today - you can now explore the very northern tip of Dover Castle, which has some rich chalk banks. And which was where Prince Louis made his camp during the 1216 siege. 061 6
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Just been there today, and loved the new presentation of the tunnels, and the access onto the northern tip of the earthworks. 110 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Dogwood is generally seen as a curse by conservation managers, but it's having a second flowering season, so it will be tolerated this year ##wildflowerhour 1132 13
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 11/10/2026This female has just laid one sac so far, so looks healthier. Others had produced up to 8 secs. 010 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 11/10/2026A large number of Wasp Spider egg cases, cleverly sited with Water Mint (camoflage) and Hard Rush (protection). Occasional sightings of exhausted females. 130 3
Reposted by SteveNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 05/10/2026The Fenland Flora by Owen Mountford & Jon Graham (with 300 photos & over 1000 maps). This 1400-page, 2-volume set has now gone to print. Pre-pub offer ends 31 Oct 2026 -visit naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop now & SAVE £25 on published price @bsbibotany.bsky.social @plantlife.bsky.social 02412 24
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 06/10/2026It seems to have been a good year for Barren Brome but these Beggarticks have made up for it. 120 2
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Nodding bur-marigold Bidens cernua seeding in profusion in an East Kent fen. Lots of cleaning to do before I go to another site - no wonder bur-marigolds are called beggarticks @bsbibotany.bsky.social 1261 26
Reposted by SteveOdd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Well, happy Charles Darwin is “very poorly today & very stupid & hate[s] everybody & everything” to all who celebrate, because he wrote those words in a letter to his friend (and author of Principles of Geology) Charles Lyell 161 years ago today 5591212 591
Reposted by SteveJim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 29/09/2026as a satire on so-called late stage capitalism how could one beat investors pouring a trillion into a company offering to wipe out humankind 1002216785 2.2K
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Good to see a willing White Bryony flowering vigorously this week. #wildflowerhour 0121 12
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 27/09/2026A few migrant birds visible during the volunteer session at Hawkshill this morning, including 3 GSW and 4 Jays flying south. Chiffchaffs calling from the hedges. #BigKentBirdMigrationDay #kentbirding 060 6
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 24/09/2026"I'll stand on your foot until you give me some crumbs" #birdstare 030 3
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 24/09/2026A quick blog-post in praise of Manchester, by a southerner. kingsdownkent.blogspot.com/2026/09/man-...kingsdownkent.blogspot.comMan U 0-5 Chelsea, and canalsA family visit took me to Wigan, Leigh and Manchester, and it was great. I've been dabbling in ditches and obsessing over canals recently s... 010 1
Reposted by Stevepmamtraveller.bsky.social @pmamtraveller.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Art by Jonatan Maldonado 303217363 3.2K
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 06/09/2026The spectacular hips of Sweet-briar. On a coal tip in East Kent, just spared from development. #wildflowerhour 0223 22
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Moth Mullein on a coal mine spoil heap. "Rare and decreasing" per Hanbury & Marshall 1899, now thriving on industrial relics. #wildflowerhour 0183 18
Reposted by SteveDaniel Moser @dmoser.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Pollution levels in London after 10 years of advancing sustainable transport. 166115933185 11.6K
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Always good to see a Road Closed sign... for roadside finds. Here, 60m of Common Purslane, by far the most I've seen. 150 5
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 30/08/2026The marvellous seed pods of Narrow-leaved Everlasting Pea #wildflowerhour 0101 10
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 21/08/2026A fine description of this summer's drought: rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com "The palette comprises the full Windsor & Newton range of browns from Naples Yellow to Yellow Ochre, through Raw & Burnt Sienna and “Raw Umberto” then Van Dyck brown, Indian Red, Copper, Rust, Rose Madder even…"rxbirdwalks.wordpress.com 000 0
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Deadly Nightshade flourishing by Dover Castle.... aka "Naughty-man's Cherries" in Buckinghamshire according to plant-lore.com #wildflowerhour #commonnames 0251 25
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Yarrow - or "Nose-bleed Plant" according to plant-lore.com, c/f "Saigne-nez" in French #wildflowerhour #commonnames 0233 23
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Us too - it makes a difference. If they are a bit long, that keeps the bricks cool too. 120 2
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 11/08/2026Never happier than when pottering around in the water. Today's lesson - comparing Water-milfoil with Hornwort. (Spiked and Rigid) 010 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 09/08/2026#DaisyFamily member Common Ragwort is valuable for pollinators when all around is dessicated (while umbellifer Wild Parsnip hosts smaller insects) #wildflowerhour 0122 12
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Good to see Loose Women's Morris, and Wolf's Head & Vixen at Broadstairs Folk Festival. 020 2
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 03/08/2026Bittersweet var. marinum and Common Toadflax somehow surviving on the burning shingle #ByTheSea #Wildflowerhour 0172 17
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 30/07/2026A few little things flowering in the dried-up mire of Burnham Beeches, including a tiny flower of Marsh Pennywort. Thanks to the Chiltern group for the meeting. 020 2
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Visiting Buckinghamshire - out early for a quick survey, moving around in the shade, and back by 11am. The phone & app survived. 010 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 28/07/2026Marvellous display of chalk grassland species at Sands Wood LNR/LWS, and by the Wycombe Wanderers car park. Clustered Bellflower in abundance @bsbibotany.bsky.social 0182 18
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 26/07/2026A record shot of one minute's rain, so we can remember what it looked like. And a bouquet of Purple Loosestrife and Common Fleabane for #wildflowerhour @kentfieldclub.bsky.social 1221 22
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 22/07/2026There's only 9 records of Venus's Looking-glass in the UK so far this year, one of which was at Ranscombe. That sounds like a serious decline. 110 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Haven't seen Venus Looking-glass for some years now, and that was a good area for it. 230 3
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 19/07/2026#stillflowering in a dried-up pond in mid-Kent, Narrow-leaved Water-plantain #wildflowerhour 0191 19
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Our resident blackbird has just started his evensong (9-25) and woke me up this morning at 4am with a short session. A much quieter song than the full-throated opera before the family fledged. 010 1
Reposted by SteveJulian Sanchez @normative.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Really enjoying the increasingly probable prospect of Trump having to present the World Cup trophy to Spain. Odds he tantrums out? 121002123 1K
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 12/07/2026Greater Bladderwort is abundant in some East Kent dykes at the moment #wildflowerhour 0162 16
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 04/07/2026On this anniversary day, I remember the album Spirit of '76. Perhaps one of the most self-indulgent double albums of the '70s and that's saying something. But some good stuff in there in places, with enough cynicism that remains valid now. youtube.com/watch?v=KpwK...youtube.comAmerica The Beautiful/The Times They Are A Changin'YouTube video by Spirit - Topic 000 0
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 30/06/2026No problem so far, to my knowledge. We first saw them here (in Deal) in 2017, and they are spreading fast around the Kent coast. 110 1
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 30/06/2026The fire bugs are invading the allotment! At least three instars on show here. 180 8
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 28/06/2026An extraordinary horse paddock nearby - short turf with marvellous plants, including hundreds of Basil Thyme. Whatever the graziers are doing, it's working well. #wildflowerhour 0120 12
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 27/06/2026I found a blog recently by a chap who admitted throwing the seeds onto the A2. Very attractive, and seedlings still come up. Don't think anyone has admitted to planting the Giant Hogweed in the central reservation nearby. 130 3
Reposted by Stevechristhebarker @christhebarker.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Ok so SOMEBODY convinced me to make this and it took me absolutely ages when I was supposed to be doing something else so enjoy it! sgtp.lovable.appsgtp.lovable.appLovable AppWho is still alive on the Sgt Pepper album cover? 1714871 148
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 27/06/2026So good to see more insects on the wing, after last night's rain. These seemed to be attracted to the curry plant. 020 2
Steve @kingsdowner.bsky.social · 24/06/2026Just getting ready to sit in a shaded nook in the garden... laptop, drink, snacks, chair all set out. And then discovered that the blackbirds have fledged and are not happy with my presence. Back into the house. 171 7