iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Not lost. Just wondering and wandering amongst the trees

steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

I should have looked closer at the head markings. Although I am not a birder I spent much in my youth on the local marsh They were so numerous back then that the local farm would hold a Snipe shoot every year and hundreds would be flushed from the reed beds Now I consider myself lucky to see one : (

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I don't take a lot of photographs when doing Dormouse Surveys, but this one was sent to me, by a colleague, from one of my surveys a few days ago

Juvenile Female Dormouse while small white tip to the tail

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Two more Dormouse surveys today One site quite small n right next to the larger site but different landowners Completing both together makes for a long morning Today there were no Dormice or nests Lots of signs of Wood Mice and Bank Voles feeding in boxes but no occupants But Millions of Millipedes

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Another survey day We have found very few Dormice across all 4 sites this year But today at the newest site where we previously found our first n only Dormouse back in June, we today found numerous Dormouse nests spread across the entire site And much to our delight, also found six Dormice : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Dormouse day and 3 of us out in the woods Only 2 Dormice, 1 Male n 1 Female in the same box Has been much quieter year than last season. Even the Wood Mice have been rare But much of the years fruits have been very early or not at all May make it hard for small souls to make it through the winter

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Yesterday we took a drive across the marshes to RSPB Dungeness Many Birders there watching a Red-necked Phalarope, a rare visitor But we decided to avoid the wind and sought shelter where we spent an hour or so filming numerous Painted Lady Butterflies, n watching Dragonflies hunting flying Aphids

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Weird illness has prevented me from venturing out into the wilds for a couple of weeks, but I am bouncing back now But I am not good at sitting still So, took the time to start sorting timber to build a new set of Dormouse Nest Boxes, so that next year, we can replace Nest Tubes at the newest site

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

At one of the woodland sites I visit there is an Oak tree which contains a Wild Honey Bee Nest. It has been there a number of years For the first time, this year the Fungi, Chicken of the Woods has grown lower down the trunk below the nest hole I am not a Fungi Forager, so will leave it be.

An English woodland.
The trunk of a large Oak tree with a small round hole, used as an entrance to a Wild Honey Bee nest

And at the base of the trunk, a yellow Fungi commonly called, Chicken of the Woods

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Raining when I set out today to complete the last two Dormouse surveys for this month Road diversion n by the time I arrived the sun was already drying the landscape rapidly Just me at these two sites so takes a while but no Dormice today Handful of Wood Mice, lots of Moths, Earwigs n Millipedes

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

A bit cooler today n out in the woods again This time with Lorna who is now training with me for her licence to monitor for Dormice No Dormice found today, just a solitary Wood mouse But we are still getting to know each other, n nice to spend some time just chatting as we wandered the woods

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

I love juvenile garden birds that have yet to learn fear Over the years it has mostly been Blackbirds, Robins n Dunnocks Yesterday a young Blackbird sat by me n even had a power nap. I assume because it felt safe with me This morning was with me again, even sitting between my feet whilst I worked

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Three of us out today for another very hot morning in the woods Lots of trees shedding leaves or visibly wilting And ponds almost dried out A handful of Wood Mice found, and a female Dormouse with just two young We also saw a large Buzzard hunting, at no more than head height, between the trees

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

In the last year. But vintage. Janis Ian and Natalie Cole

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Took a drive along the coast to a local nature reserve today Had lunch in their cafe Made a couple of purchases in the gift shop And sat in the sunshine just chillin

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Back into the woods with Lorna today Cutting a path through the last section of Brambles to place the final Nest Tubes Next season we shall be replacing Tubes with Boxes And we are hoping the landowner will allow the site to be registered on the NDMP, so any finds can be officially recorded

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Into the woods Different site today, this one was originally set up by another with just a few Nest Tubes But after I recently found a Dormouse there, we have put out more Tubes for now, n hopefully Boxes next year No Dormice today, just a couple of Wood Mice But still, I was out in the woods : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Day out in the woods but too hot for Dormice, n Wood Mice too it seems Lost count of the many Underwing Moths waiting the day out in the boxes Managed to get some undergrowth cut n a few boxes moved to new locations And again, finished the day by the pond watching Dragonflies whilst cooling off

The pond where I usually stop to take some time to relax and cool off when I complete a survey at this location

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

Various have prevented me venturing into the wilds recently, n so been setting cams, seeing who's visiting me overnight Mostly Foxes. Garden has always been popular with them As many as 4 at a time on the cam Also get Badgers, but just one sight, quickly passing by before the cam batteries failed

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Out into the woods this morn Small site with just 25 boxes Dormice are pretty rare at this site, and no signs today Plenty of Wood Mice and Underwing Moths, in the boxes And for a while, I had a Buzzard circling low above me with it's distinctive Kee-Yah Mew Again, found another dropped feather

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Some of the Dormouse nest tubes from last year, we collected recently had not weathered well So took them home for repairs Back into the woods today to site the newly restored nest tubes Was met on arrival by a Green Woodpecker And watched a Buzzard soaring overhead n picked up a dropped feather

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Well not exactly my kinda music, but certainly a classic. Unfortunately, for the wrong reasons, very current. So, I am proposing, 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by the amazing Bonnie Tyler

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Another attempt at scanning with Bat detectors this evening Even though there were many Moths, there was only the very briefest of Bat activity before going quiet again But we did bump into a Fox down by the gateway And also spotted a Badger watching us from the top end of the driveway : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Out with Lorna in the woods today, siting Dormouse nest tubes We still have several more to put out, as we work our way around the area but we are over half way there It was a gloriously sunny day alive with Bees, Butterflies n Moths And nice to just sit for a while in the woods just chatting

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Decided to go into the woods on my own this morning Cutting my way through Bramble patches so that we may get more Dormouse nest tubes placed tomorrow Were a bit behind schedule n hoping my efforts today will make up for it Managed to uncover many woodland plants beneath the growing wall of Brambles

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Today, a brief visit to the Romney Marshes. Newts and Lizards Earlier this evening, Zoom meeting for the community, hoping to re-boot the local Badger group After dark, out into the garden scanning for Bats... unsuccessfully But plenty of very noisy foxes at the end of the garden

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Morning in the woods, setting out Dormouse nest tubes with Lorna They were placed last year but we collected them up last week to relocate Unfortunately we did not get as much done as hoped, as we were beaten by a wall of Brambles We will return next week with suitable tools and grim determination

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

It's a nice garden A garden where you can take time to slow down and breathe Gardens are places of hope where we can briefly forget the world And you allow us to share a little piece of your love for green spaces Appreciated 💚

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Certainly shows changes What was, how it now is n where the future is going We are used to cooler conditions in the UK We are going to have to learn to adapt to much warmer conditions Everything from working conditions, farming practices, major infrastructure and even our homes and way of life

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Yesterday, visited a local nature reserve Ok to be honest visited their cafe for lunch But in my defence it was really hot n sometimes all you really want is ice cream Also, because of the weather and possible effect on any wildlife present, I am going to forgo my nest box checks for a while : (

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Into the woods early today avoiding the worst of the heat New site just taken on n collecting existing Dormouse nest tubes to relocate Some showing signs of use n on close examination found 2 containing old dormouse nests A third with a new nest and Dormouse in residence Not bad for the first day

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

A little bit but mostly with regards to one specific artiste...our home reflects that And me, I just love listening to upbeat tunes If you see an older slightly vibrant lady walking, wearing either headphones or earbuds, who occasionally throws in the odd dance step.... Then that just might be me

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

To be honest I had never heard of vocoder until I read your post out aloud to my partner Who then told me the story of how the producers of the track told everyone they used that method to hide the fact that they were actually using auto tune So, your post led to me learning something new today : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

I 'Believe' it's not vocoder

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

My garden is basically a small woodland n have always wanted to see Millipedes here, but never have Today whilst examining a large plant pot saw what at first glance appeared to be a tiny snail Placed on my hand n it instantly uncoiled and walked off in two different directions Baby Millipedes : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

Been a good year, the garden is full of young birds The Sparrows are currently raising a second brood We have noticed our resident female Blackbird collecting nesting materials She is renewing the nest she used to raise a family earlier this year So looks like more Blackbirds on the way too : )

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Forwent my morning seafront stroll today, to meet for coffee in the park There I was given what I will call a welcome pack to the conservation group I will be helping, set up a Dormouse monitoring project At this time, it is unknown if Dormice are present at the survey location? Only time will tell

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

They seemed quite content to sit tight and wait me out. Often removing the lid on a box full of Wood Mice is like tripping a booby trap armed with a Mouse Firework.

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Conservation day, no-one else made it so just me in the woods Which is good, I see more wildlife alone Stood under a tree with a woodpecker drumming just feet above Stalked by a brave n curious Stoat A Dormouse Nest in a box Two Female Dormice in another box Lots of Wood Mice in various boxes

Looking down into a nest box full of Wood Mice.
I believe they may have been using the strategy that if they cannot see me, then consequently I would not be able to see them

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Eventually I would like to vary the types of bird boxes Recently created a wire tunnel open at each end using flowerpot baskets, which I suspended in a thicket. This year the Blackbirds nested in it I have a Sparrow Terrace above my window which is popular, I hope to put another up this year Ongoing

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

My interest is Dormice n most of the boxes I make are for that purpose Spring, many are used by birds in Woodland. I can expect at least 30 to be used by Tits n Wrens My garden is tiny but heavy with trees n bushes. Boxes are used but many birds make natural nests, but I will add more boxes in time

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

After a chance meeting with Lorna in town last week we arranged to meet up today I was shown around woodland n pasture where she is involved in conservation management It was really great to meet everyone there, n hear about all they are trying to achieve I hope to be working with them in the future

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

In a medieval 'Torture Chamber' kinda way.

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

True Nobody likes it to 'Rain on their Parade'

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steffi @steffinie.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

I must have blinked and missed that brief moment! Although, weekdays are more me, as I prefer to avoid the weekend hordes on my morning stroll along the prom.

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