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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Willow Emeralds (Chalcolestes viridis) now the last damsels in flight @northcavewet.bsky.social 🐉

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

An unimpressive photo of a very impressive insect - a European Hornet @northcavewet.bsky.social today.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) were making the most of the warm weather @northcavewet.bsky.social today. Elsewhere: Bittern

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

A gothic background to ‘Surprise Buckeye’, an Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) in the grounds of Nottingham Trent University, #308 in #treehunting. 56 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Gorgeous in September sunlight ‘NTU J.C. Teas’, a catalpa hybrid (Catalpa erubescens ‘J.C.Teas’) #309 in #treehunting, standing proud over a new cohort of Nottingham Trent freshers. 55 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Death & resurrection. Smothering a grave in Nottingham General Cemetery, ‘General Ash’, #310 in #treehunting, has itself had a brush with death. This Weeping Ash (Fraxinus excelsior ‘Pendula’) is rejuvenating from drastic surgery - perhaps after ash dieback?. 54 of 1000 @thestreettree.bsky.social

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

A metropolitan day trip allowed a view of ‘Marylebone Elm’ #547 in #treehunting, a massive Huntingdon Elm (Ulmus x hollandica ‘Vegeta’) close to the site of the original Marylebone parish church, bombed and then demolished in 1949. 53 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Male Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) continue to patrol every corner of @northcavewet.bsky.social, but only very occasionally stopping in cameraphone range 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Thanks to Paul for pointing out this Bishop’s Mitre shieldbug @northcavewet.bsky.social today. New for me, and I gather pretty new for the reserve.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Keep thinking I’ve seen the last of Common Blue damselflies for the year @northcavewet.bsky.social, but still a couple in flight today.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Plenty of Willow Emerald damselflies about @northcavewet.bsky.social today. Elsewhere: a fabulous five minutes watching a hobby skim Village Lake!

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Warming up for a lovely morning @northcavewet.bsky.social, both me and this Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Always fascinating (if a bit frightening) to watch spiders ‘processing’ prey. This crane fly was bundled up in a matter of minutes @northcavewet.bsky.social today.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

A fresh brood of Speckled Wood butterflies about in the dappled sunshine @northcavewet.bsky.social. Elsewhere: what I’m sure were Small Coppers from their crazy flight - but which never seemed to settle 😡

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

West path @northcavewet.bsky.social now owned by Willow Emerald damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis) 😀 - counted 15+. Elsewhere: Bittern and Osprey 🤩 some days are just a bit special!

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Rising in the shade of Sheffield cathedral ‘Goth Plane’, #288 in #treehunting, a rugged, sprawling London Plane (Platanus x hispanica). 52 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Time in Sheffield today, a chance to hunt down trees old and new. Firstly, ‘Number One Elm’, #287 in #treehunting - a massive Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra). 51 of 1000

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Reposted by Steven Oliver

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

#Poet Mary Oliver was born #OTD in 1935. Her work celebrated the natural world with simple, profound language & a sense of wonder. Perhaps America's best-selling poet, she won the #Pulitzer Prize (1984 "American Primitive") & National Book Award (1992 "New and Selected Poems"). #BookSky #poetry

Iconic black-and-white photograph of Mary Oliver, renowned American poet celebrated for her lyrical observations of nature and deep bond with dogs. Seated cross-legged on a plush couch near a bright window, she holds an open hardcover book in her lap, wearing round glasses and a simple dark turtleneck. Her expression is gentle and absorbed as she looks sideways at her fluffy white standard poodle, Percy, who stands poised on a square ottoman or cushion right beside her, ears perked and eyes fixed intently on Oliver in a moment of quiet connection and mutual regard.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Terrible photo of my wife at Castle Howard today, the Migrant Hawker came out okay though. 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Autumn’s fungal fruits are starting to appear @northcavewet.bsky.social. 🍄🍄‍🟫🍄🍄‍🟫 Yellow fieldcaps (Bolbitius titubans) beside the north path today.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Large numbers of Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) flying @northcavewet.bsky.social today. This pair were tied up in their complicated copulation knot beside the dragonfly ponds.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I only spotted one Common Blue damselfly today and soon Willow Emeralds (Chalcolestes viridis) like this will be the only damselflies in the air @northcavewet.bsky.social

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A chance to get up close and personal with this male Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) @northcavewet.bsky.social today. Elsewhere: Greenshanks

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Enough sun to tempt out a few butterflies @northcavewet.bsky.social today, including this smart Common Blue.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Common Darters (Sympetrum striolatum) were hard to avoid @northcavewet.bsky.social once the sun broke through 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

🌳50 of 1000!🌳 An excellent tree to mark a (minor) milestone. ‘Harrogate Giant’, #236 in #treehunting by @thestreettree.bsky.social A True Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica ‘Belgica’) towering over Yorkshire traffic. Only 950 to go 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Hawthorn berries @northcavewet.bsky.social were looking stunning in the sunlight yesterday. A beautiful reminder that every season passes and the natural world cycles on.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Nearing my half-century with Harrogate’s ‘Spa Tai Haku’, #237 in #treehunting. This Great White Cherry (Prunus ‘Tai Haku’) will merit a springtime revisit, but still impressive today. 49 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Harrogate is a classy spot & Valley Gardens is no exception. 2 trees in the gardens, firstly ‘Valley Walnut’, #235 in #treehunting. This Manchurian Walnut’ (Juglans mandshurica) stands by ‘The Sun Colonnade’ - which was really just ‘The Colonnade’ today 😀 48 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

A fair number of Willow Emerald damselflies (Chalcolestes viridis) now about @northcavewet.bsky.social. Elsewhere: Brown Hawker, Common and Ruddy darters, Common and Blue-tailed damselflies.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Having only properly ‘re-engaged’ with natural history in the last five years, it’s great to be having completely new encounters in my 60s 😀 - my first Clouded Yellow 🦋 @northcavewet.bsky.social today ✅

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

10:45am @northcavewet.bsky.social and this male Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta) was still warming up …. 10:46am and they were off for a day’s flight 😀 Elsewhere: Whinchats

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Reposted by Steven Oliver

British Dragonfly Society @britishdragonflies.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🔍 Species Spotlight: Willow Emerald Damselfly First recorded breeding in Britain in 2009, this species has spread rapidly ever since. Look for its metallic green body and unusual habit of perching with its wings held outstretched! Flying now into autumn, so keep an eye out. 📸

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Witness to some 500 years of Ilkley ‘Stubham Oak’, #232 in #treehunting, a Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur) graces a lucky owner’s front garden! 47 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

‘Wharfe Poplar’ is a native Black Poplar (Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia) growing tall on the banks of the River Wharfe in Ilkley. #233 in #treehunting. 46 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

A trio of trees in Ilkley! First up was ‘Olicana Ash’ (Fraxinus excelsior) #234 in #treehunting. An impressive Ash in the churchyard of All Saints. 45 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

‘Dragon-of-the-day’ 🐉 @northcavewet.bsky.social was definitely the Migrant Hawker, with up to 4 in the air together. But few landed for long, so it was Darters that got a 📷 Elsewhere: Spotted Redshank

female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)

female Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Far East ……. Spurn Head 🖤🤍🖤

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Fascinating day on Strensall Common with Yorks Dragonfly Grp & @freshwaterhabitats.bsky.social. 8 spp. in total including Brown Hawker, Common & Ruddy Darters.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

‘Bridlington Spire’, #231 in #treehunting, is a splendid Wheatley elm (Ulmus minor ‘Sarniensis’) in my favourite Yorkshire seaside resort. 44 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Making molluscs @northcavewet.bsky.social today 🐌Garden snails exchanging sperm (they’re hermaphrodites). You can just make out a ‘love dart’ in the one on left. Hormones in the dart make the recipient more likely to be ‘mother’ this time 💘

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Only a few damselflies about @northcavewet.bsky.social on an overcast day, but this Blue-tailed (Ischnura elegans) stood out. Elsewhere: first good views of a Migrant Hawker.

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

A new, and perhaps unique, experience in this Small White’s brief life @northcavewet.bsky.social - rain! 😀

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Always love an @openuniversity.bsky.social ‘unboxing’ 😀 A first running for this module, so looks like only one block through the printers so far! But it’s the History of Europe 1914-2014, so -spoilers- we can guess how it turns out 🤣

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Old wealth=Old trees. These paired trees ‘Lakeside Cafe Guards’, London plane (Platanus x hispanica), in Roundhay Park may date back to its original landscaping as private parkland, #245-6 in #treehunting. 42 & 43 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

‘Roundhay Gem’ is a well developed Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) now coming into fruit. #244 in #treehunting. 41 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Surrounded by street furniture, ‘Lonely Tree’ a Wheatley Elm (Ulmus minor ‘Sarniensis’) towers directly over the northern Leeds ring road. #243 in #treehunting. 40 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Did Lothlórien & Fangorn have their genesis in Leeds parks? ‘Middle-Earth Walnut’, a Japanese Walnut (Juglans mandshurica var. sachalinensis) celebrates the formative influences of the Hollies gardens on JRR Tolkien’s imagination, #247 in #treehunting. 39 of 1000

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Steven Oliver @steven-oliver.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A summer afternoon on the Leeds ring road was rewarded with no less than 6 hunted trees! First up ‘Bungalow Tree’ a Yew (Taxus baccata) in Meanwood Park, #248 in #treehunting. 38 of 1000

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