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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Cyathus striatus - Fluted Bird's Nest fungus; in wet woodchip path; second year at same site and this year there are 100s of these strikingly beautiful 'nests' #fungifriends

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Unidentified snow-white fungal blisters on Rocket (presumed Eruca vesicaria) in Leeds garden 7/Sep/2026. Blisters up to ~1mm across on both leaf surfaces. Spores subspherical measuring 16-19.5x18.2-21.4μm. Microscopy below. Suggestions welcome so can record. @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social 1/2

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Reposted by Dr David Cockburn

Chris Packham @chrisgpackham.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Anyone else get this earlier? petition.parliament.uk/petitions/767687

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A surprise on examining this ~4mm #gall on Agrostis stolonifera at Broughton Sanctuary; Skipton. Expecting maybe fungal spores, I found it to be full of nematodes up to ~1mm: Subanguina graminophila. Not often recorded. @ynuorg.bsky.social

elongate purplish galls ~4mm long at base of leaf blade

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

We need our political leaders to act accordingly and actually lead - recognise that a crisis requires big changes - turn decisively away from the cliff edge rather than taking a slightly more oblique route towards it.

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Bright orange uredinia on lower leaf surface of Colt's-foot (Tussilago farfara) in Leeds garden. This might be Coleosporium tussilaginis. Would it be helpful to await maturation until columns of 4 teliospores can be seen microscopically @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social? #fungusfriends

Lower surface - detail - orange uredinia

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Narrow-fruited Water-cress (Nasturtium microphyllum) in marshy pond edge at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton for the #wetlandplants challenge. Seeds have smaller more numerous cells than N. officinale. #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Mature seeds (25 July 2026) with ~15 cells across broadest width

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Please could I have an opinion @mothiduk.bsky.social on whether this is a pale form of Ypsolopha parenthesella? A September observation near Skipton, Yorkshire. Many thanks.

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Allowing extensive patches of wildflowers to grow in your garden brings associated rewards: 3 insects seen this year in Leeds garden that are strongly associated with Hedge Woundwort - Stachys sylvatica #WildflowerHour 1/4

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Tenthredo mandibularis, 2nd record for SWYorks confirmed by @suillia.bsky.social dozens of adults seen at Broughton Sanctuary in extensive Butterbur patch 29/6/26 @ynuorg.bsky.social Hope I find larvae later in the season

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

New to me, to the best of my memory, the subtly beautiful Marsh Arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris). 18 flowering stems at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton yesterday; as the fruits ripen the stem continue to elongate. In calcareous marshy grassland close to R. Aire. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Rust fungus on Hordeum vulgare in Leeds garden 19/Jun/2026. Maybe Puccinia hordei - but some telia have splitting epidermis, and many teliospores are 2-celled. Microscopy in thread. [Wondered about P. coronata - a hint of a crown on some teliospores] #fungifriends @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social 1/3

orange aecia with split leaf epidermis spilling spores

black telia with leaf epidermis sometimes splitting

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Maybe Neospaleroptera nubilana? Seen inside house in Leeds 19 June 2026. (Garden wild with mature trees) @mothiduk.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Brimstone butterfly was seen laying eggs on Alder Buckthorn on 24 May, and now I have these gorgeous caterpillars in my garden. I love the glandular hairs on the back! @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

A pleasure to have Nemophora degeerella (Yellow-barred Long-horn) in the garden again this year. Always in the same spot - in the dappled sunshine under the apple trees. #Moths

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

On Ramsons (Allium ursinum) - possibly Puccinia sessilis. Aecia on lower leaf surface and cup-shaped. Spores subspherical ~27μm. Microscopy below. #FungiFriends @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social 1/2

Lower leaf surface, detail with cup-shaped aecia

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Weird and wonderful and caramel coloured, Nut Scale, Eulecanium tiliae, on twiggy branch of Wych Elm at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton @ynuorg.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Unidentified micro moth from grassland at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton; 15/May/26. Any chance you can give opinion @mothiduk.bsky.social? Thanks!

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Seen alighting on tree in daytime, this micro species with brassy scales - looking like Dyseriocrania subpurpurella. Is this view good enough for a record @mothiduk.bsky.social? Wooded valley with mature oak, near Skipton UK, 24/Apr/2026; thanks!

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

2 more #WildPlantDisease in Leeds First on Silene vulgaris: concentric rings on leaves - yellow to white to brown; but no fungal tissue yet seen microscopically - maybe wait until more advanced disease. Presume this is Puccinia (behenis or arenariae) @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social #FungiFriends 1/3

Ripples and concentric circles on upper leaf surface

Ripples and concentric circles on lower leaf surface

Detail - upper leaf surface - including areas turning brown

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Growing on Ranunculus acris in Leeds and looking like Entyloma eburneum. Globular spores ~11-14μm in leaf tissue squashes, bundles of conidiophores on both leaf surfaces, conidia both cylindric ~15-20x3-4μm and acicular ~50-60x3μm. @bitheolaidhe.bsky.social #FungiFriends #WildPlantDisease 1/2

Upper leaf surface with pustules ~2-4mm long

Lower leaf surface with pustules ~2-4mm long

Leaf section showing colonies of conidiophore bundles on both surfaces

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

New to me and to my garden this morning is Cream-streaked Ladybird - Harmonia quadripunctata. Seen on blackcurrant under pine tree. Only 9 previous records for mid-West Yorkshire on NBNAtlas. #UKLadybirds

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

An erumpent fungus on twiggy low branch of Beech in wet woodland near Skipton, UK (16/01/26). Black colouration nicely contrasts the adjacent bright green lichens and bryophytes. Conidia/asci ~12-15 cells long from around the mini 'volcanos' (~2-5mm). Unidentified thus far! #fungifriends

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Pylaisia polyantha. An attractive silky epiphyte, once an infrequent species but doing well at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton - now seen in 3 wet woods. Slender erect capsules on dark setae, conical lids and capsule exothecial cells have uniformly thickened cell walls. @bbsbryology.bsky.social

Moss in situ; capsules have dark setae and conical lids

Leaf; ~1mm, similar to Hypnum resupinatum

Capsule outer surface (left) and inner surface (right)

Capsule exothecial cells with uniformly thickened cell walls

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Let's not beat about the bush. Our security is in grave danger because of exploitation of the natural world. Once we were blind to the effects but not any more. Time for leadership from 'leaders' - our security should be their no. 1 priority. Thanks @georgemonbiot.bsky.social for your tireless work.

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Garlic Mustard, my first and favourite plant for #NewYearPlantHunt. Other highlights were a glorious Turkeytail Fungus and icy geometric frost crystals. #Wildflowerhour

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

'A Tale of Two Trametes', today on log pile at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton. Gloriously coloured Turkeytail (T. Versicolor) and algae-decorated Lumpy Bracket (T. gibbosa) #fungifriends

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

I've not found this intriguing one before - but spotted it today on cones under the Scot's Pine in my Leeds garden. The Earpick Fungus (Auriscalpium vulgare) occupies a little niche of its own, feeding on cones, and has a quirky solution to spore dispersal. #fungifriends @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

Delighted that a rabbit burrow at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, produced 2 nice finds (6/11/25): Schistostega pennata - Goblin Gold; with highly reflective protonema, shoots with leaves in 2 ranks and long leaf insertions @bbsbryology.bsky.social 1/2

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

I took a close look at Ground-ivy - Glechoma hederaceae in my Leeds garden and found 3 pathogens: A leaf gall caused by Rondaniola bursaria, a gall midge larva (family Cecidomyiidae); hairy gall ~3mm high @bsbibotany.bsky.social @ynuorg.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social 1/3

galls on leaf upperside, hairy and ~3mm high

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

New in my garden and blooming unashamedly this week in disturbed ground is Black Nightshade, Solanum nigrum. #WildflowerHour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

Spangle Waxcap in short grassland at Broughton Sanctuary, beautiful texture and colour to the cap and occasional spores have a slight constriction. Top of the stem is not necessarily red. #WildFungiHour #WildflowerHour

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 05/10/2025

Late for #WildFlowerHour, and late a chance to cross pollinate other plants is this gorgeously defiant Meadowsweet. Broughton Sanctuary, 30 Sep. @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 28/09/2025

Water Chickweed - Stellaria aquatica - brightening up the bed of a former meander of the Afon Llynfi, Powys - not so frequent in Wales. 5 styles, petals deeply bifid and longer than sepals, numerous glandular hairs above, and ovate leaves with cordate base #wildflowerhour @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

New to me: the fascinating Fluted Bird's Nest - Cyathus striatus. Growing in damp wood chip under trees; Talgarth, Powys. The white epiphragm caught my eye, which has brown hairs. Inner surface of the funnel-shaped peridium (1cm wide) is fluted and has pale egg-shaped peridioles at base. #fungi

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 03/08/2025

New find this week was Marsh Stitchwort at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton, in wet grassland close to R. Aire. Likely new to hectad, and is serious decline nationality so needs protecting. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Trying to identify a fine grass in woodland clearing in peaty soil. I think it is Agrostis vinealis but not absolutely sure - A. canina closest alternative? It seems the best feature is 'obscure' rhizomes (vinealis) vs stolons (canina)... Thanks if you can help #WildflowerID @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 07/07/2025

A day late posting this group of urban Broad-leaved Helleborines in a Leeds wildlife haven. Right on the edge of a path but staying discrete. #WildflowerHour #HelleborineChallenge @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

This Myriophyllum flower spike is young, but the bracts look pinnate pointing to M. verticillatum? Seen in small river at SD95 near Skipton - can anone confirm? Hopefully the appearance will be more typical once all the flowers are open, plus turions to come... @bsbibotany.bsky.social #WildflowerID

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Hydra spp. are very under-recorded. This brown species is H. vulgaris based mainly on characteristics of 2 of the nematocyst cell types: the stenotele is plump, while the holotrichous isorhiza is relatively slender. The new bud also grows 4 tentacles before others start to grow. Amazing animals!

Bud show 4 equally sized tentacles with 2 young short ones

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Delighted to spot this colourful little moth - Pammene aurita - sheltering from the wind on Tilia tree (while I was putting the recycling out). One of the first records of the year. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Have been trying to decide if this might be nationally scarce Crambus ericella rather than the common C. lathoniellus. Seen late afternoon 9/Jun/2025 Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton at altitude 180m close to moorland. Looks possible do you think @mothiduk.bsky.social?

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Looking like hoverfly larva on Scots Pine. Might you recognise this by any chance @geoffwilkinson.bsky.social ? Many thanks. Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton; 11 June 2025

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Nice symbiotic pact at the expense of Creeping Thistle. Fungus Puccinia punctiformis (smelling of honey), is spread by beetle Ceratapion onopordi when egg-laying. Found likely larvae in base of rotting stem. Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton @colsocbi.bsky.social #funguifriends

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Low evening sun does not help, but wonder if you might be able to shed diagnostic light onto this moorland moth by any chance @mothiduk.bsky.social? Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton; 28/May/2025. Thanks so much.

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

Two micro moths from marshy grassland/sedge/rush areas. Looks like Bactra lancealana maybe for first. Second, flamboyant in design, is Mompha locupletella. Broughton Sanctuary; 28 May 2025 @mothiduk.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Chuffed to find 3rd longhorn moth species in my Leeds garden. Nematopogon swammerdamella I think (@mothiduk.bsky.social) alighted on watering can spout. All 3 species associated with leaf litter. This one the least photogenic. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Such a smart and remarkable fly - Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana). Here basking on tree base at noon (at Broughton Sanctuary, Skipton) females are ovoviviporous and lay only around 5 eggs (each in a different cowpat). The survival rate - egg to adult must near 50%! @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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Dr David Cockburn @nature-in-charge.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

I'm struggling to pinpoint the identification of this small (8mm) moth from my Leeds garden and wondered if you might be able to recognise @mothiduk.bsky.social ? Thanks.

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