iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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BTO Scotland @btoscotland.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Have you seen a ringed Ptarmigan? Volunteer ringers from Tay and Grampian Ringing Groups are now fitting small colour rings (under license) to Ptarmigan in the hills of Perthshire and Aberdeenshire. 1/3 #BirdingScotland

A Ptarmigan in the hand, about to be released after being fitted with a uniquely coded ring. Image: Jacob Davies

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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Red waxcaps got you scratching your head? Kicking off our #FungiFriday series, we're comparing the Scarlet Waxcap and Crimson Waxcap. They may look similar, but there are some key differences to look out for. 👇

Close-up photograph of a bright red waxcap mushroom growing among green grass in a meadow. The mushroom's vivid gills are visible beneath the cap, with another blurred orange waxcap in the foreground. White text reads "Spot The Difference" and orange text reads "Crimson and Scarlet Waxcap", while a red banner in the top right corner says "Fungi Friday!".

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Plantlife @plantlifeuk.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

300 new Pink Waxcap sites discovered since 2020! 🥇 What can we find this year? Waxcap Watch returns tomorrow, and you can help uncover more colourful grassland fungi. Simply visit a grassy spot and record any waxcaps you spot using the free app. Get started - loom.ly/utyTAEQ

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Bumblebee Conservation Trust @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

In September we say goodbye to many of the UK bumblebees 💔 🍂 Old queens and their nests will naturally come to an end as summer turns into autumn. 💤 New queens will mate with males, feed heavily on pollen and nectar to create fatty stores of energy, then hibernate until the following spring.

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Royal Entomological Society @royentsoc.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

#InsectWeek is back and bigger than ever 🪰 Whether you're fascinated by butterflies, curious about beetles or simply want to spend more time connecting with nature, there's something for everyone! Join us in celebrating the little things that run the world 🔽 buff.ly/gCVYfHw #StandTallForTheSmall

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Insect Week 2026 Expands Across Five City Hubs to Inspire a New Generation of Nature Champions

The Royal Entomological Society announces ambitious nationwide programme for Insect Week 2026 On the leadup to a big week in the insect science community, the Royal Entomological Society has unveiled…

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British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

🦋🐝🪲 It's #InsectWeek! Dragonflies have been flying across our planet for over 300 million years and are among the UK's most fascinating freshwater insects. 📸 Share your favourite dragonfly photos this week, and we'll reshare as many as we can! White-legged Damselfly by Richard Bray

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Yay, Corfe Common is alive with Painted Ladies! Here are 4 of 20+ in 30 mins at 17:45, several getting stuck into Bluebell as the only nectar source! Assume these have come direct from Africa seeing as my car is covered in Saharan dust! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

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Liam Olds @liamolds.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Just my second Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) adult of the year today at @wtsww.bsky.social Brynna Woods & Llanharan Marsh Nature Reserve - this time a female. Triungulin season appears to be well underway, with a few areas in the main meadow supporting triungulins on Lesser Celandine.

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Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

Dark-edged Bee-fly has now been seen quite widely, and we have four sightings so far for Dotted Bee-fly, the first of which was from @lampsie.bsky.social on 11 March - this is the earliest ever record for Dotted, previous earliest was 15 March (in 2017) #BeeFlyWatch

Map of UK showing records of Dark-edged Bee-fly in 2026 as black dots. These are now widespread across Britain.

Map of UK showing records of Dotted Bee-fly in 2026 as black dots. Four records so far, in Kent, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

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UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme @pomscheme.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

As well as the FIT Count survey, we run a more systematic survey using insect traps in a set of 1 km squares across the UK. If you live near one of the red squares on the map and are interested in taking part please contact us for more details ukpoms.org.uk/one-km-squar...

Map of the UK showing the approximate location of the PoMS 1 km survey squares, and which ones are available for 'adoption' to carry out pollinator surveys

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Bumblebee Conservation Trust @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

March sees the return of bumblebee queens as they emerge from hibernation – here are some of the common species you can spot this month 👀 Have you spotted your first bumblebee of 2026? 🔎 Brush up on your bumblebee identification skills: ow.ly/af3U50Yi2iq

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UKBMS @ukbms.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Join us for the UK Butterfly Recorders Meeting! This free event is perfect for butterfly enthusiasts, taking place online on Sat 28th March. Discover the 2025 UKBMS findings and enjoy insights from leading butterfly experts. Reserve your free spot now! butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/...

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UK Butterfly Recorders' Meeting

Butterfly Conservation holds an annual meeting for butterfly recorders in the UK. These meetings provide a great opportunity to hear about progress with the Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM)…

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Little Green Space @lgspace.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Dandelions are starting to appear! They’re a vital source of early nectar for bumblebees, butterflies and other insects - and birds feed on the seeds. So please let them grow! More tips to help nature: www.littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/5-t...

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British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

A new report from wildlife charity Buglife reveals that pesticides from common flea and tick treatments are now widespread in rivers across Britain and may be contributing to major declines in freshwater invertebrates bit.ly/4b1Pu50

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Buglife News: Love Your Pet, Not Pesticides: New Report Warns of Flea and Tick Treatment Threat to Rivers

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Richard Fox @richardfoxbc.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

📣 New paper 🎉 Proud to have helped with this nice study by @wlangdon12.bsky.social showing a trade-off between nutritional quality & microclimate of host plants for Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas). Here in England, they choose warmth over nutrition resjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

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Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Several more bee-flies seen today - hurray 😍 So far we have records for Surrey, Beds, Bucks, Kent, Herts, Middlesex and Guernsey. Where will they appear next? Please enjoy looking out for them and send in your sightings for #BeeFlyWatch - 📸 of the Herts bee-fly by @allanburrows.bsky.social

UK map showing overall distribution of Dark-edged Bee-fly (pale grey dots) and records so far for 2026 (black dots)

A very freshly emerged male Dark-edged Bee-fly, photo by Allan Burrows in Hertfordshire

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British Arachnological Society @britishspiders.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

For #WorldWetlandsDay, we're shining a light on four of the 25% of Britain's threatened spider species that are wetland specialists. They're entirely dependent on aquatic habitats remaining wet, unpolluted and growing, not shrinking, in size and connectivity @naturalengland.bsky.social

The Reed Jumping Spider Marpissa rasdiata, typical of alkaline fens, is Red Listed in GB as Vulnerable to extinction. Image copyright: Alan Thornhill

One of GB's largest spider species, the Fen Raft Spider Dolomedes plantarius is Vulnerable to extinction both here and globally. Image copyright: Helen Smith

The tiny Sun jumping spider species Heliophanus damfi, is a raised bog specialist, Red Listed in GB as Vulnerable to extinction. Image copyright: Richard Gallon.

The Ground spider species Gnaphosa nigerrima, is a wet peatland specialist found in only one location in GB. It is considered Vulnerable to extinction on the GB Red List. Image copyright: Richard Gallon

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

What a win for nature! Scotland is the first UK country to have Swift bricks in law – a lifeline for this threatened bird. And, for the first time ever, the Scottish Government must set legally binding nature recovery targets. Thanks for helping make history with a strong Natural Environment Bill.

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Scottish Greens @scottishgreens.org · 28/01/2026

🚨 It's official! Swift nesting bricks have passed the Scottish Parliament and will now become law. Swifts are in serious decline across the UK. This will help reverse that trend and make our communities more liveable for birds. @markruskell.bsky.social and @writerhannah.bsky.social explain 👇

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Today we raised our voices outside Scottish Parliament in one last push to ensure politicians stand up for Scotland's nature. The Natural Environment Bill could be a game-changer - introducing nature targets and Swift bricks. The final debate starts today, we hope to see major wins for wildlife.

Group smiling and holding up their signs and bird puppets outside Scottish Parliament

Close up of sign which reads 'Swifties for Swift Bricks!' with a picture of Taylor Swift

Three members of RSPB staff stand together smiling holding a Curlew puppet, a Puffin puppet and a Swift puppet

Swift puppet next to Scottish parliament entrance

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RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Rise and shine, it's the final day of #BigGardenBirdwatch! Remember, you can still take part even if you haven't signed up. Help us spread the word: share this post, text someone, or tell the whole table over your Sunday roast. The more data we get, the better 🧑🔬

A Robin, perched on a twig, staring somewhat intensely straight down the lens.

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Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Room for one more? At this time of year, Herald moths (Scoliopteryx libatrix) can be found roosting together in caves and outbuildings 😴 📷: Iain Leach #Winterwatch #MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Six Herald moths roosting together on a cave ceiling

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

Gulls are in serious trouble in Scotland. These remarkable birds are facing significant pressures. A recent report revealed licensed control could have contributed to declines ➡️ rspb.org.uk/scotland/news/licensed-gull-control-in-scotland We must balance the needs of protected species and people.

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Raptor Persecution UK @raptorpersuk.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

147 Hen Harriers confirmed 'missing' or illegally killed in UK since 2018 - most of them on or close to grouse moors. Data extracted from reports by Natural England, RSPB, HSE, various Police forces, National Wildlife Crime Unit. #RaptorResearch 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/01/21/1...

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147 Hen Harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close to grouse moors

For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of Hen Harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue…

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Peter Cairns @petecairns.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Have your say on the potential return of lynx to northern Scotland. lynxtoscotland.org/information-...

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British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

One of our most important habitats is being destroyed, and it’s time to act. Ancient peatlands are nature’s heroes. Tell Government we need to protect them💪 actnow.peatfreepartnership.org.uk/end-peat-sal... @peatfree.bsky.social #EndPeatSales

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Sign the petition to end peat sales!

No more delays: Let's get peat out of gardens once and for all. The time for uncertainty has ended.

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Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Our annual UK Moth Recorders' Meeting is back with a fantastic line-up of talks exploring the latest developments in moth research and conservation! 📍 Online 📅 Saturday 31 January Book your place 👉 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/uk-moth-reco… 📷: Marian Coburn

A male Emperor Moth facing directly at the camera while perched on a green plant against a black background.

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Scott Shanks @scottshanks.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

No chance of #wildflowers for #wildflowerhour with deep snow, but did see my 1st #butterfly of 2026 on 9th January! My earliest ever Green-veined White, by about 3 months. Unfortunately indoors. Suspect we must have brought in it’s chrysalis on logs from the woodpile. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Male Green-veined White butterfly. Emerged 9th January 2026, Archiestown, Moray. Showing distinctive dark wedge markings at edge of forewings, and single spot on upper surface, which indicates this is a male. The wing spots can sometimes be pretty faint on males of the Spring generation. Females generally have 2 spots on upper wings.

Male GVW showing the distinctive green veins on its underwings. Emerged 9th January 2026. Archiestown, Moray.

Male GVW showing the distinctive green veins on its underwings. Emerged 9th January 2026. Archiestown, Moray. Snowing outside.

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Scott Shanks @scottshanks.bsky.social · 28/12/2025

A few hardy #Speyside finds braving the frost for this week’s #Wildflowerhour 🌼 plus a couple of friendly locals too🐦🐿️ @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbiscotland.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social #Moray #VC95

Clockwise from top-left: Gorse. Feverfew, Cross-leaved Heath & Common Daisy.

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

We have resigned from the Scottish Government’s farming policy group having lost all confidence in the process. Farming is key to tackling the nature and climate crisis. Many farmers and crofters want to do more but the current system is failing them. Full statement 👇

Text which reads:

We’ve made the difficult decision to walk away from groups set up to help shape Scottish farming policy.

For four years, alongside LINK, we’ve tried to engage constructively and help the government achieve their sustainable farming goals. But we can no longer participate in a process we’ve no confidence in.

The process is meant to be co-designing policy, but there’s no clarity about the aims or timeline, key evidence doesn’t seem to influence decisions, and repeated requests to improve things have gone unheeded.

Farming has an essential role to play in tackling the nature and climate crisis. Yet of the £650M of public funding spent on agriculture each year, just 5% directly supports nature and climate friendly farming. Many farmers and crofters want to do more but the current system — and the process meant to reform it — is letting them down.

We are still keen to help make the much-needed changes and urge the next government to start afresh.

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

🙏 A huge thank you to the more than 17,000 people who have spoken up to save Coul Links from a golf course that would cause irreparable damage to this incredible place and its unique wildlife. We’re now waiting for ministers to make a decision. Add your voice: action.rspb.org.uk/page/166270/...

A photograph of the beach at Coul Links in the snow

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Natural History Museum, London @nhm-london.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Our scientists have been busy this year! From dinosaurs to diatoms, they have helped to describe an amazing 262 new species from all around the world! 🪸🐠🦎🦋🪱 Read more about this year’s new species list 👇🏻 www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/new...

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Glittering butterflies: Natural History Museum describes 262 new species in 2025 | Natural History Museum

Over the last 12 months our scientists have been busy cataloguing the extraordinary diversity of life on Earth.

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Scottish Greens @scottishgreens.org · 10/12/2025

Swifts are in serious decline, with their UK population falling by 66% since 1995. Moments ago MSPs backed our amendment to install low cost swift nesting bricks in new buildings. This small act will make our communities more liveable for birds and help swifts recover.

Breaking. Safe homes for Swifts. MSPs have voted to back a Green amendment to install low cost swift nesting bricks in all new buildings above a certain size.

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

A win for Swifts! Thanks to your support, Scotland might become the first UK country to require Swift nesting bricks in all new buildings. Today MSPs voted to include this in the Natural Environment Bill – now we must make sure it stays in the Bill through the final stage.

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BSBI Scotland @bsbiscotland.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Day 4 is Bog-rosemary. With nodding pink bells and bicoloured, Rosemary-esque leaves, it brightens up autumnal raised bogs a treat! It reaches the north of its range in central Scotland, where I spent several Sep days refinding old records of this local rarity from the 1980s and 90s #wildflowerhour

Bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), a dwarf-shrub of lowland raised bog. The photo shows two erect, reddish stems with mid to dark green alternate leaves, the leaf margins curled downwards to hide a distinctive whitish underside. akin to culinary Rosemary leaves but broader. At the top of the first stem is a cluster of three beautiful pink flowers, each one a nodding bell with fused petals, and inflated base and a narrow tip where the bell pinches together, ending in small lobes. On the second stem, the flowers are still in bud and undeveloped. The plant stands out from a background sward of Heather (Calluna vulgaris) in the upper half of the photo and Common Haircap (Polytrichum commune) in the lower half of the photo, a mix of greens and browns giving an appropriate autumnal hue to proceedings. The narrow leaves of Hare's-tail Cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum) spike through the sward in random directions.

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BSBI Scotland @bsbiscotland.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Day 8 of my botanical #adventcalendar - Yellow Bird's-nest. This bizarre plant is a mycoheterotroph - it has no chlorophyll, so can't photosynthesis, and gets all its food from parasitising underground fungi! In central Scotland it is found on mining bings - islands of biodiversity #wildflowerhour

Yellow Bird's-nest (Hypopitys monotropa), a bizarre looking mycoheterotroph. This plant has no chlorophyll, as evidenced by the photo - three stems of a pale, buff-yellow plant emerge from light green moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) and scattered leaf litter. Each stem is around 10 cm high, has translucent scales adpressed to it instead of regular leaves, and is topped by a drooping inflorescence consisting of around eight tubular flowers, each bell fused together with some irregular little teeth at the end. The whole plant is uniform in colour, with no distinction between the stem, scales or flowers. Behind, a young birch woodland filters sunlight.

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BSBI Scotland @bsbiscotland.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

cdn.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/4bqlg3ic/nrw...

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Elva Robinson @elvarobinson.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

These wood ants are edge specialists... but not all edges are equal. Jacob Podesta used a decade of population expansion data to show that wood ants spread more quickly along certain edges, depending on the edge orientation. Currently available open access here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Large wood ant mound on the edge of a plantation forest

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martinswarren.bsky.social @martinswarren.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

The new European Butterfly Red List is published today, with worrying findings. Over 1/4 (28%) of Europe’s 442 species are threatened with extinction or are close to being so. The situation is far worse for our 148 endemic species, 40% are now threatened or nearly so www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?...

Front cover of the European Butterfly Red List, showing Polyommatus humedasae. The report can be downloaded at https://www.bc-europe.eu/webpage.php?name=red-list-butterflies-2025

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RSPB Scotland @rspbscotland.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Scotland's swifts are in freefall. They need action now. Yesterday, @scotgov said Swift Bricks don't belong in the Natural Environment Bill. We disagree. There's still time to back Swift Bricks - email your MSPs now: action.rspb.org.uk/page/181323/...

A close up photo of a Swift's face against a black background

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Ian Andrews @suillia.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

My first Snow Flea (Boreus hyemalis) of the winter at Cali Heath @yorkswildlife.bsky.social reserve today. Nice of her to pose out in the open on a fallen leaf, so didn't need to spend hours waiting for one to emerge from the Polytrichum moss! @ynuorg.bsky.social #Mecoptera #Boreidae #ukwildlife

A female Snow Flea posing on a fallen leaf on acid grassland. One of the Mecoptera order, like scorpionflies, but flightless, living down among short, Polytrichum mosses on sandy soil.

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The National Plant Monitoring Scheme @npms.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Our #NPMS10 online celebration event is this Saturday! Good news - you can still book & join for all or part of the programme ow.ly/xqqf50X4fEE talks from @bsbibotany.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social @jncc.bsky.social @ukceh.bsky.social as well as volunteers & stakeholders.

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