iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Gilbert White @gilbertwhite.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

1777: Mrs Snooke's tortoise devours kidney-beans & cucumbers in a most voracious manner: swallows it's food almost whole.

02715

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

I've just passed the 58,000 records milestone on #iRecord.

020

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

A juvenile Common Lizard (Zootoca vivipara). Photographed this afternoon near Bretton Clough in Derbyshire.

A tiny brown lizard peaking out of a lichen-covered dry stone wall.

081

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Asian Small-clawed Otters (Aonyx cinereus) basking in the morning sun at Edinburgh Zoo.

000

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

As a child, I was a bit of an "I-SPY" fanatic. Some of these little books helped lay the foundations for my current interest in biological recording.

021

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Old Wheel Dam in the Loxley Valley is alive with dragonflies at the moment. Species seen there yesterday include Brown Hawker, Emperor, Broad-bodied Chaser and Black-tailed Skimmer. All sightings added to #iRecord #DragonflyWeek

A male Black-tailed Skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum) perched on a twig protruding from the water.

A female Brown Hawker (Aeshna grandis) ovipositing (egg-laying) on a fallen tree on the water's edge.

021

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

🔍 Species Spotlight: Southern Hawker A large, striking dragonfly with bright green markings and blue spots (males). Flying from July to October, they're often curious and may even hover close to investigate you! 📸 Seen one? Share your photos and record it on iRecord. #DragonflyWeek

1186

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

On Wednesday I was surprised to find a few patches of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) flowering in the goose-grazed grassland around Orgreave (Waverley) Lakes. It's a species that I haven't knowingly seen before, so I hope my identification is correct.

141

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Jelltex @jelltex.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Over 50m either side of the cycle path/footpath near the bypass at Monk's Wall have been strimmed, destroying approx 20 Lizard orchid spikes. I have reported this to DDC and will see what happens. Lizard orchids are Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

95519

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Larvae of the Mullein Moth (Cucullia verbasci). Photographed at Newlyn, Cornwall.

000

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

We spent a happy half hour watching this vixen and her cubs yesterday. #FoxOfTheDay

A vixen with her two well-grown cubs. The mother is sprawled in the grass, looking relaxed but alert. Her chin is resting on the back of one of the cubs.

A mother fox leading her two cubs along the edge of a scrub thicket. One of the cubs is larger than the other.

041

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Bee Orchid (Ophrys apifera) flowering on the roadside in urban Sheffield.

093

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Other work by the Ladybird artists. ‘Wren’ Artist: CF Tunnicliffe

The wren is perched on a piece of lichen-covered rock looking curiously at the viewer

451782

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Travel South Yorkshire seems to have given up on providing up-to-date information at bus stops.

010

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

I've just finished listening to the latest installment of The Murderbot Diaries by @marthawells.com. Excellent stuff!

110

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Sorby Natural History Society @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

As the nation (quite rightly) celebrates the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, we are commemorating the 200th birthday of Henry Clifton Sorby with two special events this weekend.

sorby.org.uk

Henry Clifton Sorby | Sorby Natural History Society, Sheffield

142

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Gilbert White @gilbertwhite.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

1777: A pair of swifts appear at last: they usually come in pairs. Cucumbers abound.

0446

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

There seems to have been an influx of Painted Lady butterflies. This afternoon we had several sightings of them around Stannington, South Yorkshire.

0161

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Loads of Dock Bugs around at the moment. Earlier today I counted about 40 of them on Fern Road, Walkley Bank.

000

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Dewberry (Rubus caesius) growing along the Chesterfield Canal at Shireoaks. Thanks to @pshughes.bsky.social for pointing it out during yesterday's @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social field-meeting.

052

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

I saw my first two Swifts of the year yesterday evening.

000

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Moschatel (Adoxa moschatellina) growing in the Rivelin Valley, #Sheffield. This tiny plant is also known as Town Hall Clock due to the shape its flowerheads. It was first discovered at this location by Gerry Firkins.

052

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

This morning I visited one of our local cemeteries to do a Birds in Greenspaces survey for the @btobirds.bsky.social. It looked as though the site had recently had a visit from Norbot and his "neat and tidy" crew: wood anemones, bluebells and violets all mown-down whilst in full bloom.

110

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Just had a brief sighting of a Hummingbird Hawk-moth visiting the newly opened flowers of Lilac on Hammerton Road, Sheffield.

011

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) flowering in High Hazels Park, Sheffield. This distinctive wildflower has several other "folk names", including Lady's-smock and Milk Maids.

021

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

On Easter Monday I saw my first Green Tiger Beetles of the year at Wharncliffe Chase. First Willow Warbler and Common Lizard too.

Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris).
A large (15 mm) tiger beetle that is iridescent green with yellow markings.
It is usually found in areas with bare ground or sparse vegetation such as gravelly or sandy hillsides and sandy heath.
Both adults and larvae are predators on other invertebrates. The larvae dig a burrow in the ground, often on or near paths to pitfall-trap unwary insects.
Source: https://www.naturespot.org/species/green-tiger-beetle

010

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Sorby Natural History Society @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Our outline programme of activities for April 2026 to March 2027 is now available on our website at www.sorby.org.uk/events/ Full details of each activity will be given in our monthly newsletter, which is distributed free to members.

sorby.org.uk

Events | Sorby Natural History Society, Sheffield

011

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Today I had my first two sightings of Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) for 2026. Both males. One in Miller's Dale, the other on the Monsal Trail, near Hassop station.

A male Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) basking on a fallen leaf.

010

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

My first Peacock butterfly of the year, on Clay Pits Lane near Stocksbridge. #springwatch

151

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Just heard my first Chiffchaff of the year, singing on the Steel Valley Walk near Stocksbridge. #springwatch

010

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Sitting on 70 Acre Hill, listening to the Skylarks singing.

010

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

AJCann @ajcann.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Leafhoppers & Allies: identification, ecology and recording - Alan Stewart Thursday 19/02/2026, 19:30, online via Zoom Book here: www.naturespot.org/node/262956 #Bugs #Hemiptera #VC55 #Auchenorrhyncha Please share!

Green Leaf-hopper, Cicadella viridis. Male left, female right.

13314

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

One of the Lewis Chessmen - currently on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Found in 1831 on a beach at Uig on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, the Chessmen dates to the late 12th or early 13th century. 📸 My own. #FindsFriday #LewisChessmen #NMS

1145987

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

A little bear figurine carved out of amber some 6,000 years ago 🐻❤️ A hole runs through the bear’s torso suggesting it was threaded on a cord, perhaps worn or carried as a protective charm. Found in a peat bog near Słupsk, Poland, in 1887. 📷 National Museum in Szczecin #FindsFriday #Archaeology

Photo by G. Solecki/A. Piętak of a small figurine of a bear carved out of amber between 9600 and 4100 BC. The amber is a deep translucent orange. The display lighting makes it glow in places. The bear's head is carved to show ears, mouth, nostrils and eyes. A hole runs through the bear’s torso, suggesting it was threaded onto a cord. Dimensions: Length 10.2 cm, Height 4.2

It was discovered in Słupsk during peat mining in 1887.

According to the museum catalogue ‘’Shortly after its discovery, the figure underwent conservation work to restore its original appearance as it was covered with a layer of dull patina from the exposure to the minerals contained in the peat. Already at that time, at the end of the 19th century, it was assumed the restoration had gone too far. The figure was stripped entirely of patina, the anatomical features of the animal were emphasised, the eyes and nostrils were sharply drawn, and the amber was carefully polished”.

In 2013, a competition was organised by the Education Department of the National Museum in Szczecin, for children to choose a name for the bear. The winning name was ‘Słupcio’,

271455326

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Glo i Natur CIC @gloinatur.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

3 weeks since launching our 'Save the Small Blue at Cwm Tips' #Crowdfunder and we’ve raised £915 - nearly halfway! 💙 Thank you for your support 💚 If you would like to donate, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/save-the-s... #SaveTheSmallBlue #GloiNatur #CoaltoNature #Nature #Wales #Cymru #Wildlife

086

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

I've just passed the 90,000 records milestone on #iRecord: 54,939 of my own records and 35,061 records uploaded on behalf of colleagues at @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social (with their permission).

041

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Graeme Lyons @graemelyons.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

It's arrived! Pan-species Listing: How to Become a Super-Naturalist published by @pelagicpublishing. My first book. I am so pleased with it. It looks amazing, all those photos of incredible British species really make this a very colourful book and a celebration of how fantastic our wildlife is.

812122

Reposted by Roger Butterfield

Sorby Natural History Society @sorbynathissoc.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

The latest edition of our monthly newsletter is available now! For details of how to join, please visit www.sorby.org.uk/about-us/membership

021

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

This morning I noticed the first signs that the two Robins which visit our garden may be about to pair off for the nesting season. They now seem to be tolerating each other's presence at the bird-feeder and are no longer trying to kill each other!

120

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Our Christmas afternoon walk in the Rivelin Valley produced two Dippers and a Kingfisher.

020

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Hurrah! My records of Hygrocybe punicea have been verified as correct by Steve Hindle. I'm particularly glad to receive his confirmation as this is a species that I haven't attempted to record in previous years.

000

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Here's an interesting piece about data-mining from NatureSpot. In answer to AJ Cann's question, I would say that NatureSpot does have some of the best natural history content online... and I'm not a sycophantic AI bot! www.naturespot.org/node/263486

naturespot.org

We've been mined | NatureSpot

010

Roger Butterfield @rogerbutterfield.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

One of my favourite wildflowers. In September we found masses of it blooming on the edge of Land's End Airport in Cornwall.

030