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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

A bit of autumn downtime, and I’ve managed to get back to the #orchid photos from this spring. I’d set myself the challenge to try to get one good photo of each species I saw this year. Here’s no. 11, the Woodcock Orchid (𝘖𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘹). We found this one in late April in the Ardèche. #botany

A Woodcock Orchid in a lush green meadow. One flower is open on the flower spike, facing the camera. The rest are above it and still in-bud.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Always happy to spot Praying Mantises out here, especially the impressive Empusa! With their crowned head, they look like Sauron!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last #orchid of the year here in the Ardèche - Autumn Ladies' Tresses (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴). These orchids are tiny and easily overlooked (looking like a little plantain spike), but worth looking for. I love how the #flowers look like melting snow up close. #macro #photography #botany #wildlife

A flower spike of Autumn Ladies' Tresses (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴)

A close-up of Autumn Ladies' Tresses flowers. They are small and white, and the label looks like disintegrating snow.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Really happy to find some 𝘉𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴 in the garrigue. Such impressive beasts! Plus a lovely Sunday nature walk for a couple (the usual when you're both ecologists!).

A Yellow Scorpion fluorescing under UV light.

A person taking a photo of a scorpion using a mobile-phone while another holds a UV torch to illuminate it.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I really like finding Mediterranean Slant-faced Grasshoppers. Seeing them makes me so happy. Mainly because all I can see is Beaker from the Muppets.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

A great evening spent hanging around a #moth sheet with members of the LPO. Worth staying out until midnight to see my first ever Lappet! Plus a gorgeous Striped Hawkmoth, a fairly shifty looking mantis (you ain't seen me, right?), plus a 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢. A great opportunity to talk convergent evolution!

A Lappet moth. It has a wavy border to its wings, looking like an oak leaf.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Red-veined Darter female photographed in the Monts d'Ardèche, among the flowering heather.

Red-veined Darter dragonfly female, which is yellow, with a blurred yellow and pink background caused by the flowering heather backdrop.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I'm making these for the people who can't have the desserts we source for the rest of the group on our field courses. French desserts are lovely (they're famous for them!), but are a bit heavy on the cream, and eggs, and gluten...

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

It's been a fun challenge to find recipes that cover all bases: vegan, and free from major allergens such as gluten and nuts. But I've received compliments, and did overhear a student saying "Oh my God, that's amazing" when they tried the vegan chocolate mousse, so pretty happy with the results!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Here’s Oscar, watching attentively, and clearly concerned as paella normally includes fish… (Important hygiene note – the cats are carefully monitored and NOT allowed near the cooking). Oscar prefers bread anyway…

A large pan of paella on a terrace. Behind it, a white cats sits on a wall, looking at the pan.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Really happy to be providing good food for the visiting staff and students. A great location, great wildlife, and great food. Just what a field course should include!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

By the end of our spring field season the lavender alley was absolutely heaving with life. Really great for students doing invertebrate transects. It made every walk to the château gate take ten times as long though. So much to stop and see!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Really happy to be supporting local businesses with @meropsfieldcentre.bsky.social, which is what we've always wanted to do. Plus if it means I'm eating delicious vegan Asian food twice a week, don't mind if I do! Their "flamboyant sauce" is amazing.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Our last field course of the spring-summer season went right into early July. It was hot, but still very biodiverse, with lots of cicadas, butterflies, fish and amphibians on-site. Plus the ever-present vultures and flamingos on our day trips. A really great course.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Really happy that the stream was still flowing and attracting visitors. But daytime footage of a Beech Marten (with prey!) was the icing on the cake.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

A great opportunity for the students from Bath Spa to trial radio-tracking. We did this the day before heading to the Causse Méjean, where we then searched for the real thing by going through known frequencies of released Bearded Vultures. What a great experience!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Great projects from Bath Spa University, where the emphasis was not on getting good data for analysis, but getting to have hands-on experience with different survey and sampling methods. What a fun week!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Quite arid on the Causse in July, but a nice variety of plants and insects. Plus some great upland birds despite the heat!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

A really great (and hot!) day on the Causse. Lots of birds, despite the heat: vultures a-plenty, plus shrikes, rock sparrows and Snake Eagles. A fly-by by a member of one of our favourite Bearded Vulture couples (a male-male pair) was the icing on the cake.

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

A hot day in the Camargue, but wow-oh-wow, two close flyovers by a stunning male Little Bittern. No pics, as they're speedy and we just enjoyed the moment. All students saw it. Great stuff.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Supporting local businesses while enjoying delicious food. This makes me VERY happy.

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Well, wasn't expecting that to turn up in the moth trap! A female Rhinoceros #Beetle (𝘖𝘳𝘺𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘴). Trying to dig down into the egg crates. She was dutifully released under the trees where she rapidly disappeared into the woodland soil. They can dig so fast! #insect #Coleoptera #entomology

A female Rhinoceros Beetle in an egg box. There are petri dishes with small moths in the background.

A female Rhinoceros Beetle trying to dig down into an egg box.

A female Rhinoceros Beetle walking along a stone surface.

The Rhinoceros Beetle disappearing into the soil. There are chestnut catkins scattered around.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Haven't seen any Emperors yet, but I did kneel to pay my respects to a Pasha. Two-tailed Pasha (𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘹𝘦𝘴 𝘫𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘶𝘴) photographed in Gard, France. #butterfly #butterflies #entomology #Lepidoptera

A Two-tailed Pasha butterfly on a white gravel path.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

We've met Admirals (Red and White), and bumped into the Duke of Burgundy back in May, and now who turns up but the Queen of Spain?! Hoping for an audience with an Emperor next...

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

I’ve been playing with the BirdNET integration in Kaleidoscope, and it’s pulled out some lovely detections of Tawny Owls. The first is the typical twit-twoo of a duetting couple. The second is a more ghostly courtship call. No wonder it’s alarming the Blackbirds (sound on)! @wildlifeacoustics.com

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Really enjoying this season's acoustic ecology. Spectrogram clarity definitely seems better for the bats with the gooseneck microphone extenders from @titleyscientific.bsky.social sourced through @nhbs.bsky.social Here's one of our Choruses waiting at the river meander for the night's bat activity!

A Titley Chorus audio recorder with a gooseneck microphone extension for the ultrasonic microphone. It is attached to a tree and pointed in the direction of a meander on a river.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Kick-sampling nets drying in a warm and sunny spot? Yes, that's an appropriate place to rest Gonzo #ecology_cat @nhbs.bsky.social did you know your fine gauge nets can catch everything from water mites to... cats?

A row of five kick sampling nets stood up against a wall with the net end at the top to dry out. The one on the far left has a cat lying down in it.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

A really great week hosting Nottingham students (and staff!) here in the Cévennes. Lots of enthusiasm by all, especially for "lifers" from Greater Flamingos right down to various Hymenoptera, and a stunning Heather Crab Spider.

A Brown Knapweed flower with a Honeybee on it at an odd angle. The flower is purple, and on closer inspection, there is a purple Heather Crab Spider among the petals, grasping the bee.

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Always fun to get in the river and look for beasties. Everything from sponges to Viperine Snakes on this occasion, plus a Short-toed Snake Eagle overhead afterwards. It must have heard us talking about the snakes!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A great evening bat detecting with really enthusiastic students. Nightingale to start, bats, then a Wild Boar at the end, followed by a stunningly clear night full of stars. Just an excellent evening.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Great fun working with undergraduates from the University of Nottingham in the woodlands. We were of course helped by our ecology #cats, Oscar and Gonzo. They make great field assistants, but are often distracted by exciting dead trees...

Two pale grey and white cats in the branches of a fallen dead tree.

Two pale grey and white cats playing on dead chestnut trees. One is inside a hollow trunk, looking out of a tree hole.

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Amazing numbers of butterflies on the Causse the other day. Here's the slightly less glamorous "making of" clip!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Fabulous flora out here at the moment. Early June is just fantastic!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Oh #orchid of orchids! Oh, be still my beating heart. A rare day off and we ventured out in search of one of the most elusive orchids in France, the Lady’s Slipper Orchid. On a steep trail in a beech forest of the Grands Causses, we found them - and I've not stopped smiling since! #botany #orchids

A Lady's Slipper Orchid. It has dark red petals, and an inflated yellow label that looks a bit like a shoe.

Sophie crouched down on a trail, with a Lady's Slipper orchid next to her.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

This male Green Woodpecker's cleaning routine had us in absolute stiches. We watched it as part of our "camera trap movie night" and we all found his "makeover" quite striking. From a beautiful Green Woodpecker to a muddy mess. Still, he seemed to be enjoying himself!

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

A seriously good day on the Causse Méjean. Vultures, orchids, Przewalski's Horses - and glorious sunshine. Even managed to get some of the local upland birds for a couple of keen birders - Rock Sparrow and Tawny Pipit - plus Red-backed Shrikes, and a singing Common Quail (somewhere). Great stuff!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

A really good day in the Camargue with our combined groups. We even saw some young Coypu with their mother. All had an excellent time, with the academics from Lincoln and ARU happily birding together. A really nice collaborative experience. @g-iossa.bsky.social

Three academics walk towards the camera, along a reed-lined path with students following behind them.

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Fantastic weather out here for kick-sampling. Everyone was very keen to get in the river!

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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Really enthusiastic moth trapping by our mixed Lincoln and ARU MSc group. Great fun, plus a brown Lime Hawkmoth too.

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

The first time we've hosted a group of PhD students, and what a fantastic experience. So many diverse disciplines, and so many interesting conversations. We had a fantastic time too!

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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Reposted by Sophie Mowles

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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Sophie Mowles @sophiemowles.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Up close (but not too close!) and personal with the Przewalski's Horses on the Causse Méjean. What a fantastic experience to share! Batchelor groups fighting, a suckling foal with its mother and other facsinating social behaviours.

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