Sign in

Ian Ralphs

@ralphsian.bsky.social
246 followers 275 following 136 posts

(Mostly) Retired Field Ecologist formerly Hbic and HWT. Plants and other stuff, places that end in "shire".

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Dawn Balmer @debalmer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Here's the link to the BTO Auto-ID statement www.bto.org/develop-your... on use of Auto-ID tools for surveys such as BBS, GBW and use in BirdTrack
0117
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Dr Hannah Fluck @hannahfluck.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Anyone fancy a job helping deliver for nature and climate in one of the most extraordinary historic landscapes in the NE of England? One of those once in a decade opportunities just came up at @NationalTrust Wallington/Heart of Northumberland estate www.simplyhired.co.uk/job/d9vU9N7C...
simplyhired.co.uk
General Manager - National Trust | Morpeth
0109
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Several species of arable wildflower having a second flowering out in the east of VC33, including Night-flowering Catchfly #wildflowerhour
Night-flowering Catchfly
0263
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Amy Robjohns @amythebirder.eurosky.social · 17/09/2026
Birders / naturalists - if you've got data science skills etc and free time for volunteering, how about seeing if your local species group needs help with the data side of things? GIS etc also could be valuable given the spatial nature of species records. #UKbirding
072
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Some of my #favouritefinds this year. Scattered throughout VC33. #Wildflowerhour
Round-fruited RushCut-leaved SelfhealSlender ThistleGreater Dodder on Tufted Vetch
091
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social All VC34 this week, both sides of the Severn. Sea Arrowgrass and Sea Aster (semi-rayed var🤣) Lydney and Sickle Medick and Beggarticks at Sharpness. #Wildflowerhour
Sea ArrowgrassSea AsterSickle MedickBeggarticks
0131
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Yes agree, i was thinking the same thing yesterday when looking at examples on the side of the Severn. VC34
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Hi fives for me and the Greater Thorn-tipped Longhorn Beetle after we'd relocated an ellusive Grey Phal on the Severn south of Lydney! #Glosbirds #Glosbeetles
170
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Two old sites in Hants, the Redenham Park site refound post the 87 storm by, let me think, oh yes me!🤣
020
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Busy morning on the hill, despite the lack of rain. 13 Corn Bunting, 31 Stonechat, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Redstart, 6 Whinchat and 6 Wheatear the highlights.
030
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Back out to the Downs to see the shrike again, which showed superbly. And some of the supporting cast.
Long-taiked Shrike, Eastleach Downs.Spotted FlycatcherWhinchat mobbing the shrike.
080
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Debbie Tann MBE @debbietann.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
www.hiwwt.org.uk/blog/hiwwt/l...
hiwwt.org.uk
A landscape under pressure: drought, wildlife and changing climate | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Drought and climate change are putting the landscape and wildlife under growing pressure. Discover how extreme heat, low river flows, wildfires and flooding threaten chalk streams, freshwater habitats...
072
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Months on the Dumbles at WWT currently sat. @wwtsightings.bsky.social
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
#Stillflowering this week in light gaps in the Cotswold Beechwoods. Wood Barley and Deadly Nightshade VC33 #Wildflowerhour
1201
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
A tangle of Oenanthe aquatica (Fine-leaved Water-dropwort) and Rumex maritimus (Golden Dock) in the rapidly drying muddy edges of pools in the Severn vale VC33, this week. #aquaticplants #wildflowerhour
0222
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Greater Dodder in the Severn Vale, between Gloucester and Tewkesbury this week. First time I've seen it here parasitising Tufted Vetch. VC33. #Wildflowerhour
0121
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Isn't that a Tone Loc B side?
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
And Wild Liquorice VC33 on Friday. #Wildflowerhour
0161
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Cut-leaved Selfheal flowering in VC33 this week. #Wildflowerhour
0161
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Orchids on the hill this afternoon, including a couple of cheeky Wasp O's and a tiny Bee busy pollinating the Musk O. #wildflowerhour #VC33
0316
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
🤣
000
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Best kind of birding!
120
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Hairy Rock-cress, Cotswolds VC33 #Wildflowerhour
0151
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Also Cuckoo Pint, occasionally, Bishops Pintle. I have no idea what a Pintle is. It's probably not a good idea to google it!
100
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
Field Pennycress and Hairy Rockcress, plus Chalk Milkwort, GWO's in various shades and Pasqueflower all still going strong in VC33. With Sea Arrow-grass and Bulbous Foxtail down by the Severn in VC34. #Wildflowerhour
060
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social #ButtercupChallenge Happiness = Two species of Water-Crowfoot in a VC33 dew pond, high on the Cotswolds this week, Common and Thread-leaved. Thread-leaved is the tiny flower with the petals that don't overlap or "not contiguous at the anthesis" as Stace would say.
090
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
🤣
000
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Hitting peak "bells" out in west Glos VC34. #wildflowerhour
0120
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 19/04/2026
Wood Anemone out in VC34 this afternoon. #wildflowerhour
0121
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Cotswold Pennycress still just hanging on, but Green Winged Orchid and Pasqueflower fresh out in VC33. #Wildflowerhour
Cotswold Pennycress 2026Green Winged Orchid 2026Pasqueflower Cotswolds 2026
0232
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Late visit to the West Sussex patch yesterday evening very quiet. However, 3 Shoveler close inshore loafing on the top of the tide, off the Felpham Yacht Club was a patch tick! #Sussexbirds #FelphamMiddletonBirds
010
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Tristan Norton @trisnorton.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Upper (L) and lower leaf surfaces of Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L) and Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem. @bsbibotany.bsky.social
0253
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
👍
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
The north-west corner of VC34 (West Glos) shining with the light of a million suns. #SignsofSpring #Wildflowerhour
310910
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Winter ten for St.David's day. All from the banks of the River Dee, in the old county of East Flintshire. #wildflowerhour #Wrecsam
0243
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Late trip out this pm. 2 adult winter Med Gulls in the roost at the Mere, Ellesmere this evening. Two Egyptian Geese and a flyover Curlew as well. #ShropshireBirds #Ellesmere
050
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
One of 15 Goldeneye on the Mere, Ellesmere, this afternoon. #ShropshireBirds
090
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Musley Lane late pm yesterday. Plenty of Redwing and Chaffinch in the maize stubble and hedgerows. #WrexhamBirds
020
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
And you!
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
Three Whitefronts at #Coombehill this morning, probably my last patch tick of 2025. #GlosBirds
130
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 28/12/2025
@wildflowerhour.bsky.social As it's the last #Wildflowerhour of 2025 some of the highlights. Large Venus's Looking-glass, Few-flowered Spike-rush, Red Helleborine, Holly-leaved Naiad, Sea-heath, Blue Pimpernel and Dwarf Pansy, on an April day when Bryher was colder and wetter than Shetland.
0265
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
Late pm Felpham to Elmer #WestSussexBirds Gulls all along way offshore. Only birds of note being 3 Swallows west past Elmer Sea Defences at 1530hrs.
010
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre @hantsbic.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Welcome to the Hampshire Nature (UK) feed collating wildlife and plant sightings in Hampshire: bsky.app/profile/did:...
Welcome to the Hampshire Nature feed which is for natural history sightings and events/news (bioblitz, talks, walks etc), in Hampshire. The feed picks up tags like #HantsBirds, #HantsPlants, #HantsMoths, and #TeamMoth will work for Hampshire moth-ers. Some key locations should be picked up too, and extra locations or tags can be added. Please let us know if you've got suggestions to improve it 😊 
Other feeds which might be of interest: 
•	#HantsBirds 
•	Moth feeds - #TeamMoth & #MigrantMothsuk 
•	UK Wildlife photos 
•	Birding UK/IRE (#HantsBirds works as do #ukbirding and other regional tags) 
•	Low Carbon Birding (#LowCarbonBirding) 
•	UK Patch Birding (e.g. #PWC2025 – patchwork challenge)
•	Birds! which collates global sightings & photos 
•	Birding Gear 
•	Wildlife ID and info books
092
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Counts from Felpham to Middleton last couple of evenings. 11 Brent Geese and 2 Sandwich Terns late yesterday. Ringed Plover roost up to 41, with max count of 175 Med Gulls including 4 colour ringed birds. Small but steady passage of Mippits , Skylark and 1 Siskin. #Sussexbirds
020
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Late walk down the beach in pretty blustery conditions. From the Lobster Pot to Hannah's Groyne 37 Ringed Plover, 12 Turnstone and 3 Sanderling off HG,with 75 Med Gulls loafing off the LP the best. #Felpham #SussexBirds
010
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
Ten species of butterfly on the Pembrokeshire coast yesterday. Inc first Clouded Yellow of the Year with 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Wall, and 8 Small Coppers. Caerfai to Solva #St.Davids
040
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Wow.
000
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
Sussex Wildlife Trust @sussexwildlife.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
Our CEO Chris Corrigan has written a guest blog for Mark Avery called 'Taking a stand for marine protection'. 📷 Kerry Williams buff.ly/j8T5ZYb
CEO Chris Corrigan with CEO of neighbouring wildlife Trust standing by the Thames at the March for Clean Water in 2024 holding a banner that says Make Water Great Again
1163
Ian Ralphs @ralphsian.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
@bsbibotany.bsky.social Anyone have a recommendation for a supplier of herbarium quality paper?
000
Reposted by Ian Ralphs
wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
It’s late summer and the Asteraceae or daisy family are looking just splendid. Perfect for this week’s #WildflowerHour! See if you can find one & share your pics this Sunday evening 8-9pm using the hashtag #DaisyFamily. Happy Asteraceae hunting!
Beautiful botanical illustration by W Keble Martin from The Concise British Flora in Colour showing some of the members of the diverse daisy family. Can you find a member of the Asteraceae for #WildflowerHour this Sunday?
010742