iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Late summer and early autumn are the best times to see mantises here in the garrigue – if you can spot them! These sit-and-wait predators blend in with often remarkable camouflage while awaiting their prey. Pictured are a Mediterranean Conehead Mantis and a Grey #Mantis. #entomology #insect

A Mediterranean Conehead Mantis, 𝘌𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢, sitting in Wild Thyme.

A Grey Mantis, 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳, sitting in Wild Thyme.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

With the arrival of autumn, we are now seeing our last #orchid of the year in flower, Autumn Ladies' Tresses (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴). So called because of their spiralling inflorescence that resembles a neat plait. This is a tiny species, with a flower spike of approx. 15cm, and flowers only 5mm long.

An Autumn Ladies' Tresses orchid growing on slightly mossy ground.

An Autumn Ladies' Tresses orchid inflorescence.

An Autumn Ladies' Tresses inflorescence from the side to illustrate how neatly the little white flowers are arranged.

The tip of an An Autumn Ladies' Tresses showing the spiral of growth.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Here in the south of France we have two species of #scorpion. The Yellow-tailed scorpion (𝘛𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘴) is 4cm long with robust pincers. The Yellow Scorpion (𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴) can reach 8cm, and invests in a larger sting. They both #fluoresce under #UV light. #entomology #arachnid

A European Yellow-tailed Scorpion among small rocks and mud.

A European Yellow-tailed Scorpion fluorescing under UV light.

A Yellow Scorpion fluorescing under UV light.

A Yellow Scorpion among stones and earth.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Late summer here in the south of France is when we see some of the largest Orthopterans, including the amazing Mediterranean Slant-faced Grasshopper (𝘈𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢). Its stretched appearance seems bizarre out in the open, but is excellent camouflage among the grass. #Orthoptera #insect #Entomology

A long green grasshopper sat on a gravel path. It has a stretched, pointed appearance.

A long green grasshopper sat among grass blades. It is well camouflaged.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

This field season, Sophie has been in charge of creating alternative #vegan, allergen-free desserts for those that require them. Chocolate mousses with aquafaba, lemon pots made with silken tofu, plus vegan #gluten-free brownies and blondies made with local chestnut flour. Allergen-free and #local!

Four ramekins of chocolate mousse with raspberries on top.

Four ramekins of a lemon mousse, with biscuits placed in them for added crunch.

Four bowls of chocolate chip blondies. There is a pot of soya cream in the middle.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

In addition to supporting local caterers, this season we’ve been preparing some on-site meals ourselves. This lets us cater for many dietary requirements, creating allergen-free, #vegan, wholesome meals. Fabrizio is rather proud of his paella pan. Here he is with his famous #paella and #ratatouille.

A large pan of paella on a terrace in front of a wooded background of trees.

A close-up of a paella with lemons, pea shoots tofu red peppers, peas and rice.

Fabrizio adding basil into a paella pan full of ratatouille.

Fabrizio cooking the ratatouille on the terrace.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Our late spring and summer groups were treated to some fabulous invertebrates among the lavender. Plenty of pollinators, like this Broad-bordered Bee #Hawkmoth, but also Saddle-backed Bush Crickets and predators such as crab and Wasp #Spiders. Great diversity for student projects. #lepidoptera

A Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth hovering and drinking nectar from lavender flowers.

A Saddle-backed Bush Cricket with its abdomen raised. It is a male and is singing.

A Pink Crab Spider at the end of a lavender spike, waiting for prey.

A Wasp Spider sitting in its web among the lavender flowers.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

This field season we’ve been working with some new local food providers, including the fantastic Koumaï just down the road in La Grand Combe. Specialising in growing a variety of micro-herbs, they create amazingly tasty Asian-inspired (gluten-free AND vegan!) food that everyone can enjoy. 1/2

Plateaux of vegetarian maki rolls. Some are filled with carrot, others with avocado.

Fresh rolls filled with vegetables, herbs and mango.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

We’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the staff and students from Bath Spa University for a great field course. Thanks for being so enthusiastic, designing such innovative projects, and making the very most of your time here in France. We wish you all the best with the rest of your studies.

A group of people posing for a group photo - taken from a drone hovering slightly above them.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

While here in France, students from Bath Spa University deployed #camera-traps around the field centre. With the hot temperatures, the stream was very attractive, with Badgers, Roe Deer, Wild Boar, Red Foxes, Genets, and even Beech Martens carrying prey (a rodent and a Sloe Worm)! #trailcam #ecology

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

More field tech for the students of Bath Spa University to learn about. Firstly a hands-on experience with #radio-tracking, locating our resident (plushie) Griffon Vulture. Then a demonstration of our @djiglobal.bsky.social multispectral #drone by Fabrizio to illustrate plant and habitat surveys.

Fabrizio with two students as they use a radio tracking receiver. One is holding up the antenna and holding the receiver in her hand, while the other student is following her in a bright sunny meadow.

Three students posing with radio tracking equipment and holding up the tagged plushie Griffon Vulture that they have located.

Students watching as a drone descends into the courtyard.

A composite image of a courtyard surrounded by woods and meadows from above. On the left is a standard visual image, on the right is a multispectral composition with bright purples and reds illustrating foliage.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

While here, students from Bath Spa University designed projects that let them experience using different ecological survey equipment. These included underwater filming of Pumpkinseed Sunfish, and #bat acoustic analysis using passive bat detectors. @titleyscientific.bsky.social @wildlifeacoustics.com

Two students in front of a river looking at a small screen from an underwater camera.

An image from an underwater video of a Pumpkinseed Sunfish close to a river bed covered in algae.

A passive bat detector attached to a tree with the ultrasonic microphone facing out along a river.

Two students discussing the outputs from a bat detector on a computer.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Exploring the Causse Méjean with students from Bath Spa University, we saw the harsh and often arid steppe where there is a breeding program for the endangered Przewalski’s #Horse. Nearby, we spotted an Iberian Grey Shrike, plus Acanthus-leaved Carline Thistles just starting to flower.

A Przewalski's Horse walking through dry grassland.

A lecturer taking photos of a thistle in grassland, while students use binoculars in the background.

A close-up image of an Acanthus-leaved Carline Thistle that is just preparing to open.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

As part of their field course with us, we took students from Bath Spa University to the Causse Méjean, where we learned about the species of vulture here in France at the Maison des Vautours. We were lucky enough to see 3 of them: Griffon #Vultures, Cinereous Vultures and a stunning Bearded Vulture.

A member of staff at the Maison des Vautours gives a briefing to students. There are model vultures hanging behind him.

A student looks through a telescope. There are cliffs in front of her, against a blue sky.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Day 3, and students from the University of Bath Spa got to trial some invertebrate sampling techniques. We started with a morning of #moth trapping, then headed to the river to collect invertebrates by kick-sampling. Highlights were Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, and Red Swamp Crayfish in the river.

Staff and students from Bath Spa looking at moths in petri dishes and identifying them using ID guides.

A Langmaid's Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthina).

A Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

Students with kick-sampling nets wading in a shallow river.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Day 2 with our guests from Bath Spa University and we explored the #Camargue wetlands. We were treated to some close fly-bys of Little Bitterns, and watched as the Glossy Ibis fed in the shallows. We also discovered the path left by a terrapin as it made its way across the mud and into the water.

Students and staff stood on a boardwalk over water, looking through binoculars.

A terrapin trail through the mud. It starts out with little footprints, then becomes more rutted where the terrapin dragged its carapace through the mud.

A Glossy Ibis feeding in the shallow water.

Two students looking through binoculars at flamingos on a large pond.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

This field season we’ve been sourcing one of our evening meals from Au Fil des Tartes in Alès. We’re really happy to support local businesses, and enjoy great regional food. Here is the goat's cheese and onion "tarte Cévenole", plus a vegan tart made with vegetables and coconut milk. Delicious!

The exterior of a French café specialising in tarts. It has blackboards outside showing its menu, and has also some outside seating.

A large circular tart with slices of goats cheese baked into the top.

A large rectangular tart with vegetables and seeds in it.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

We’re having a great time hosting staff and students from Bath Spa University. We kicked off the first day with tours of our local habitats, an introduction to #GPS use, plus deploying camera traps. A comprehensive start to an excellent week of #ecology. #butterflies #entomology @bsugeog.bsky.social

Students exploring a trail in dense foliage.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Lots of pollinators out on the lavender, including some fantastic #butterflies. Among the Brimstones and Cleopatras, Clouded Yellows and Scarce Swallowtails, we’ve even spotted a Queen of Spain Fritillary. Looking forward to our next camps seeing them. #butterfly #Lepidoptera #entomology #fieldwork

A male Cleopatra butterfly. It is like a Brimstone, but with yellow and orange wings.

A Clouded Yellow butterfly nectaring on lavender.

A Scarce Swallowtail butterfly feeding on lavender.

A Queen of Spain Fritillary feeding on lavnder.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Summer is here and the #cicadas are buzzing (1st spectrogram). We’ve had a great spring for #sound recordings, with #frogs, #birds such as Melodious Warblers, and of course, lots of #bats (here, a Kuhl’s Pipistrelle). Looking forward to lots more #acoustic_ecology as the field season continues.

A spectrogram showing a raspy repetitive rhythm. There is an inset photograph of an Ash Cicada.

A spectrogram showing a broken repetitive rhythm. There is an inset photograph of a Pelophylax frog.

A spectrogram showing a scratchy fast bird song. Inset is a photograph of a Melodious Wabler.

A spectrogram showing the repeated echolocation calls of a bat, including a feeding buzz and lower frequency social call. Inset is a photograph of a Kuhl's Pipistrelle.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

We’d like to say a huge thankyou to all of the staff and students from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social for a great field course. Thanks for being so engaged and enthusiastic about your #ecology #fieldwork. We had a fantastic time hosting you, and wish you all the best with the rest of your studies.

A group of people - staff and students from the University of Nottingham, plus Sophie and Fabrizio from Merops, stood in front of the Château du Fraissinet. It is a historic residence, with woodland behind it.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

We had great camera trap results this week with our guests from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social. We managed to get all of the “big 8” #mammals here (although the Roe Deer was a little fast!), plus bonus Coypu young. Sound on for a very thirsty European Badger. #trailcamera #cameratrap #trailcam

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

We had an excellent afternoon #river sampling with students from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social. We found mayflies and stoneflies, as well as Spinycheek Crayfish and even freshwater sponges. A great way to learn important #ecological survey techniques while staying cool in the south of France!

Students stood in a river holding kick-sampling nets.

A small cream freshwater sponge attached to a rock.

Students wading in the riffles of a river. Some are looking while others are carrying sampling nets.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

1/2 We spent an excellent evening bat detecting with students from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social. With our EMT2 Pro units from @wildlifeacoustics.com, we detected seven species: Soprano, Common and Kuhl’s Pipistrelles, Savi’s Pipistrelle, Serotine, Lesser Noctule and plenty of Daubenton’s bats...

A river with wooded banks in early evening.

A spectrogram showing a Daubenton's Bat echolocation pattern and feeding buzz.

A spectrogram showing a Lesser Noctule's echolocation pattern, with a mixture of higher and lower pulses.

A student holding a tablet with ultrasonic microphone attached. She is recording bat calls while overlooking a river.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

As part of their field trip with us, we took students and staff from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social to the Camargue, where we explored the freshwater and brackish habitats. We saw lots of Greater Flamingos, as well as Glossy Ibis, European Bee-eaters, and nesting White Storks #ornithology #birding

Students and staff looking through telescopes and binoculars over a pond.

A pair of White Storks on the nest, with two large chicks in it.

Two European Bee-eaters photographed through a spotting scope.

Staff from the University of Nottingham looking at a group of flamingos on a large pond.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Students from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social have been busy surveying the #plants and invertebrates in our local pine and chestnut woodlands. They’ve use GPS units to locate random survey plots, measured canopy cover, and collected #invertebrates with nets and pitfall traps. #ecology #fieldwork

Fabrizio helping students to locate their random survey point using a GPS.

Students with quadrats and a beating tray. One is digging a hole with a trowel for a pitfall trap.

Three students looking into a pooter which has invertebrates collected in it.

The canopy of the pine forest against a blue sky with clouds.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Day 2 with our guests from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social. After kicking off with an introduction to #moth trapping (and ID!), they’ve been out sampling the meadow habitat. Highlights were a longhorn beetle (𝘟𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪) and a Light Crimson Underwing moth (𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘢). #insect

Students standing around a table on which they are sorting through moths in petri dishes.

A Light Crimson Underwing moth. It is black and white with zigzag stripes.

A longhorn beetle looking directly into the camera.

A group of three students sat in a meadow identifying plants.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

We’ve had a great first day with staff and students from the @uniofnottingham.bsky.social. After touring the local habitats, students were taught plant and invertebrate survey techniques in the meadows. Highlights included seeing different crab #spider species eating their prey. #arachnid #fieldwork

A lecturer showing students an insect caught in a tube. They are standing in a grove of Black Locust trees.

A well-camouflaged green crab spider that has caught a bee.

A red Napoleon spider on a Brown Knapweed, holding a bee it has caught.

Students beating the branches of a tree with a stick to catch insects in a beating tray.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

After a very dry May, we’ve finally had some rain, and up on the Causse Méjean the butterflies are taking full advantage of the puddles to drink and gain crucial mineral salts. We’ve never seen so many Black-veined Whites (𝘈𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘦𝘨𝘪). #Lepidoptera #Entomology #butterfly #insect

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Early June, and we have some real botanical highlights here in France. The parasitic Pinesap is blooming in the pine forests, Star Clover in the garrigue, Feather Grass is opening on the steppes of the Causses, and in the Beech forests, the Lady’s Slipper #Orchid is flowering. #botany #phytology

Pinesap, a white flower lacking photosynthetic pigments, growing out of the forest floor, which is covered with pine needles.

Feather Grass opening and blowing in the wind.

A Lady's Slipper Orchid in a shady forest.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

We often get surprises on our camera traps, especially at the Wild Boar wallow. During their field course with us, MSc students from @aru-biology.bsky.social and Lincoln managed to witness this Green Woodpecker’s cleaning routine. Needless to say, he got a bit carried away. @g-iossa.bsky.social

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

After our first ever combined field course, we’d like to say a huge thank you to all of the staff and MSc students from @aru-biology.bsky.social and the University of Lincoln. It was an excellent experience hosting you all, and we thank you for your collaboration and enthusiasm.

A group of staff and students from ARU and the University of Lincoln with staff from Merops stood in front of the Chateau du Fraissinet. They are looking up, being photographed by a drone.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

We spent an excellent day exploring the Causse Méjean with MSc students from @aru-biology.bsky.social and the University of Lincoln. Home to all four species of vulture breeding in France, we were delighted to see a Bearded Vulture and Egyptian Vulture among plenty of Griffons. @g-iossa.bsky.social

Three people with their backs to the camera look through binoculars at a cliff against a blue sky.

Eurasian Griffon vultures flying near a cliff, with an Egyptian Vulture nearby.

People on a viewing platform with cliffs in the background, holding their binoculars up and looking into the sky.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

As part of their joint field course with us, we took MSc students from The University of Lincoln and @aru-biology.bsky.social to the #Camargue. First we explored the freshwater wetlands to the north, which host one of the largest reedbeds in Europe. @g-iossa.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social

MSc students walking along a boardwalk over a large body of water towards a bird hide.

Two Purple Herons taking flight over a reedbed.

Two MSc students looking through binoculars and a telephoto lens over a reed-fringed pond.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

MSc students from ARU and the University of Lincoln had sessions sampling the invertebrates in the local river to assess its quality. Two areas were sampled, before we brought the invertebrates back to identify them under the microscopes. @aru-biology.bsky.social @g-iossa.bsky.social

MSc students standing in a river in wellington boots, with nets and trays, sampling invertebrates.

An MSc student looking at a Western Demoiselle.

An MSc student photographing damselflies on an Alder sapling.

Two Orange Featherleg damselflies with the male mate-guarding the female by holding onto her neck with the claspers at the tip of his abdomen.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

MSc students from the University of Lincoln and ARU seized the opportunity for some #moth trapping. Really nice specimens were identified by the students, and we had highlights in three species of hawkmoth, plus Olive Tree Beauties. @aru-biology.bsky.social @g-iossa.bsky.social #lepidoptera

A moth trap deployed in a meadow at night. It has a glowing blue UV bulb, and consists of a white box placed on white sheets.

MSc students looking at moths in petri dished while consulting ID guides.

Three Hawkmoths in pots: a Poplar Hawk Moth, a Small Elephant Hawk Moth and a Lime Hawkmoth.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

An excellent first day with our first ever joint group, we welcomed both staff and MSc students from ARU and the University of Lincoln. Looking forward to some interesting discussions as our conference-style week progresses. @aru-biology.bsky.social @g-iossa.bsky.social @hannah-wht-eco.bsky.social

A group of MSc students and staff stood in a meadow of purple flowers (Brown Knapweed).

Staff and students photographing plants along a woodland path.

Two students crouched down taking photos of a caterpillar on a plant.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

We’d like to thank all of the staff and doctoral students from the @treesdla.bsky.social program that came to us for their field course. It was really interesting to hear about your diverse research interests, and to show you the local case studies here. We wish you all the best with your studies!

A group of doctoral students, their lecturers, and Merops staff stood in front of the Château du Fraissinet, an historic building with woodland behind it.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

On our final day with doctoral students from the @treesdla.bsky.social program, we headed a former coal mine to learn about the geology, the historically important industry, and also bout its legacy including pollution and landscape change caused by the extractions. @drsdodsworth.bsky.social

A group of doctoral students listening to a presentation given by two of their peers outside a former coal mine.

A group of doctoral students and staff walking towards a mine shaft.

A large drum of cable inside a huge hall, used for raising and lowering the mine's lifts.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

With doctoral students from the @treesdla.bsky.social program, we headed to the Camargue to learn about the threats to marine ecosystems. We watched the flamingos and other birds in the salt marshes, before heading to the sandy shore to discuss ocean acidification. @drsdodsworth.bsky.social

A group of five Greater Flamingos in flight.

Doctoral students watching Greater Flamingos feeding in a reedbed. They are only about four metres away.

Doctoral students on a sandy shore, being given an introductory talk by two members of their group.

Three Common Tower Shells on the sand. They are orange, brown, and purple.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Day 4 with our group from the @treesdla.bsky.social program, and we headed to the Causse Méjean where we had the privilege of entering the Takh Association Przewalski’s Horse breeding program to monitor their behaviour and learn more about this endangered species. @ellileadbeater.bsky.social

A group of PhD students in short grassland looking through cameras and binoculars. One is crouched down taking notes.

A male Przewalski's Horse grazing. The grassland is very short, with occasional orchids.

A group of PhD students sat down while monitoring a herd of Przewalski's Horses through binoculars.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Day 3 with @treesdla.bsky.social and we witnessed some great workshops here. An anthropology exercise based on the Chauvet cave paintings, morning moth trapping, and a river invertebrate survey. All designed by the doctoral students themselves. @ellileadbeater.bsky.social @drsdodsworth.bsky.social

A group of PhD students around a table with a large piece of paper on it. They are painting images in the style of cave paintings, including reindeer and ferns.

A Giant Peacock moth on a piece of egg box, having been caught in a moth trap.

A group of PhD students at the river's edge on a sunny day. There is one student deep in the river, waring waders.

A group of PhD students on a rocky beach of a river, looking into a white tray containing a river invertebrate sample.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Day 2 with the @ucl.ac.uk @treesdla.bsky.social doctoral student group, and we explored the volcanic geology of the north Ardèche. We got up close and personal with the basaltic columns at Jaujac, before viewing the extinct volcanic cup that the flow emerged from. @ellileadbeater.bsky.social

Doctoral students presenting a drawn poster on geology at a viewpoint overlooking a basalt column cliff.

Basaltic columns in a cliff, with entablature above. There is a river in the foreground.

Doctoral students watching as another talks about basaltic columns in front of a cliff containing these geologic forms.

A view over a medieval town, with a hill in the background.
It is an ancient volcano that a lava flow emerged from.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Yesterday we kicked off our field course with the @ucl.ac.uk @treesdla.bsky.social doctoral student group. We spent a fascinating day in the Ardèche looking at paleo-ecology and studying fossils at the museum at Balazuc, including a session on scientific drawing… @ellileadbeater.bsky.social

Two students studying an information sheet in front of a dinosaur skeleton.

A staff member taking a photo of fossils in a glass case.

A Smilodon skeleton, with fossil fish presented on a wall in the background.

Two students sketching fossils in a case.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

We’d like to say a huge thank you to staff and students from the KU Leuven for a fantastic field course. Thanks for being so enthusiastic and interested in everything here. We wish you all the best for the rest of your studies. @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

A group of staff and students from Merops and KU Leuven on an observation platform with cliffs in the background. They are smiling and posed for a group photo.

A group of staff and students from Merops and KU Leuven stood for a group photo in from of a historic building. The photo is taken slightly from above by a drone.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Our final day with KU Leuven featured a drone demonstration by Fabrizio, plus a hike through the forest to nearby garrigue habitats where we looked at the native flora. Highlights included Field Gladiolus, more species of orchid, and a Striped Hawkmoth. @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

A group of students watch a drone land in front of a historic building.

A Field Gladiolus. It is a purple flower set in green vegetation.

A Striped Hawkmoth on the ground. It is brown with pale fawn stripes along its wings.

Fabrizio with a group of students examining the vegetation between a verge and a hedgerow. This is where the orchids and Gladioli are likely to occur.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Students from KU Leuven designed and carried out some fascinating group projects. We’ve had bat acoustic behaviour, the response of birds to UV coloration on model beetles, ant foraging behaviour, plus personality in damselfly larvae and Cricket-bat Orb Weaver spiders @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

Students deploying a bat detector on a pole on a wooded hill.

Shiny blue model beetles attached to leaves.

A lot of tanks arranged on chairs in a field lab for an experiment on spiders. Three students are in the background recording results.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Day 3 with KU Leuven was a trip to the Causse Méjean, an upland area well-known for its orchids and birds of prey, including four species of vulture. Highlights were a close flyover by a Short-toed Snake Eagle, and spotting the endemic 𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘪 #orchid. @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

A student taking photos of Early Purple Orchids that are growing in a grassy verge.

A close-up of an Ophrys aemonii flower. It has green sepals, with a dark brown label that has yellow borders and a blue reflective section in its centre.

A Short-toed Snake Eagle flying overhead. Its underwings are pale with rows of tiny black spots, plus a darker head and neck.

A group of students and staff standing on a viewing platform with a rocky cliff in the background. Some are smiling, while others are looking up with their binoculars.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Day 2 with KU Leuven was spent exploring the #Camargue. We first headed into the wetlands to observe flamingo behaviour, where we also encountered Eurasian Spoonbills and the European Pond Terrapin. Later we explored the dunes and life on the Mediterranean shore. @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

Fabrizio talking to students among salt marsh vegetation.

A Spoonbill standing in the water and feeding with its spoon-shaped bill wide open.

A European Pond Terrapin sat on a log behind some reeds.

Students and staff on the beach looking at the Mediterranean Sea.

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Merops Field Centre @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

KU Leuven are here! We recently welcomed MSc students from KU Leuven, who got off to a running start with their projects, along with tours of our local habitats. Highlights were insects, frogs, a fascinating slime mould, and seeing the 𝘗𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘥𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢 in full bloom. @aquaecoevocon-kul.bsky.social

A group of people walking along a meadow. There is a corridor of cypress trees behind them, leading towards an historic building.

Pseudoacacia flowers hanging from a tree. They are white bunches, while the composite leaves of the tree are bright green.

Three students taking photos of the undergrowth near a river.

An orange slime mould fruiting body on a rotten log.

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