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MartinWW

@swaledalebirds.bsky.social
316 followers 279 following 724 posts

Birds, moths, flowers and everything else to do with the natural world. Records on iNaturalist as ‘martinww’ Land manager living in a “world of wounds”. VC65 Partner in renaturing project heggscastlecluster.org Waldgenga. Nephophile. Absurdist.

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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Can’t remember if I posted this. Fugus on fungus!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
So played a bit more with AI on pix. Prompt was “remove the piece of dead grass and make the picture sharper without any noise” for this ropey shot of a yellow wag. So it returned a different pic! Now another reason to never encourage/“like” toggers pix.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Came across this in a drawer. When wife (to be) and a mate and I were asked if we would have our pix taken ‘tomorrow’ whilst volling with York BTCV (so we all wore awful clothes) Original scan is v poor so AI’d it. From 1990. 😂😂
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Lovely evening bike ride to the pub. Found a cracking (literally) old Crab apple. The only tree remaining (apart from a small thorn) of what I presume to be an old hedge boundary.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Heggs-Castle renaturing cluster in Arkengarthdale yesterday. (Link in bio). Turkeytail, 🤷‍♀️, Yellow field-cap and a late Small Copper.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
A walk at Scorton GPs yesterday. Only fungi seen were a couple of well deliquesced Lawyers Wigs. Great white egret (a long way off) and a couple o Dunlin too.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Some local fungi from a very dry Swaledale wood. A Mycena (Angel’s Bonnet?), Tripe fungus, Sulphur tuft and Earthy webcap. Corrections welcome. #FungiFriends 🍄🍄‍🟫
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Another shroomtastic afternoon riding around conifer plantations. This time in Achray Forest near Aberfoyle. #FungiFriends 🍄‍🟫🍄
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Fungi thin on the ground today along the old railway line in Strathyre (or I didn’t notice then whilst biking, albeit slowly). The only clean specimen was this Blusher. 🤔 Lunch was yummy tho, although quite a step down from recent meals it was cooked on a bench overlooking Loch Lubnaig.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Struggled with fungi on this evenings walk in Strathyre to Loch Lubnaig. Some Jew’s ear (It’s named after Judas before you start!), a bolete & a nice river. Also found some nice fresh Sorrel to go in a Hen of the Woods risotto with garlic sos. Bastard took nearly an hour to cook. No idea why🤷‍♀️😂
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Black darter on the banks of Loch Tay earlier. A new one for me!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
More hunting this afternoon. Puffball, Candlesnuff, a Russula and not sure. #FungiFriends
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Hen of the Woods foraged on the banks of Loch Tay earlier. Very tasty If my ID is incorrect then 👋🏼
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
And this is what became of some of the Chantys. Scottish venison burger topped with a bit of forage. 😋😋😋😋😋😋
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
More…
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Found some more shrooms in the same wood (as yesterday’s post) this morning. Yellow stagshorn, Dyers polypore, Ochre brittlegill and Bay bolete. As always corrections welcome.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Dogs are OMNIVORES! Here seen chomping on Brambles. Haws are very much liked too.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A Blusher species in Strath Tay this afternoon (mi thinks🤔)
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Seen on the edge of the River Tay. Absolutely zero idea what it is. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️. Certainly not “Cowslip” as apps have suggested😂😂😂😂🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Plenty of fungi in Tayside at the moment. These four were found in an oak/beech woodland near Grandtully. Beech knight, Sulphur tuft, Smokey polypore (?) and Mica cap. Any corrections welcome.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Help… @palustris.bsky.social @botanicalmartin.bsky.social Absolutely no idea what this is. Any ideas (Tay Forest Park)
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Reposted by MartinWW
Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Neoliberals have neutered direct state investment in infrastructure. Everything is privatised, state guarantees profits. UK languishes at or near the bottom of the OECD league for investment in productive assets. China invests over 41% of its GDP in productive assets, India 34.3%, UK 17.9%.
leftfootforward.org
Here’s how the chancellor can raise the billions needed to improve the quality of life of millions
Prem Sikka is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and the University of Sheffield, a Labour member of the House of Lords, and Contributing Editor at Left Foot Forward. Mi...
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
With the first Pinks reported yesterday, it’s now officially Autumn!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Interesting ‘Sycamore’ seen yesterday. Uniformly purpley undersides to the leaf. Not noticed that before. Is it A. pseudoplatanus, a cultivar or summat different? Seen at Scorton Lakes complex N Yorks. @botanicalmartin.bsky.social
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Fifth day failure! Not a single fungi found at Scorton Lakes complex. No surprise as it’s a fairly new spot. But did see a Woundwort Shieldbug (on the brambles we were picking) and a distant Great White Egret. Brambles all but finished😢
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Four days and a fourth fungi. A Pluteus species I think. On the banks of the Tees near Barnard Castle 🤓
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Three days and three species spotted whilst walking the dogs. Fairy ring mushrooms I believe 🤷‍♀️(Richmond racecourse).
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Second of the autumn spotted in the rain yesterday. Initially thought young Oyster, but not sure upon further inspection. They looked wonderful in a dark wood tho!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
First fungi of Autumn spotted yesterday. Yellow field cap (Bolbitius titubans [great binomial😂] growing on some Ash chips from last winter.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Perambulation at Scorton Gravel Pits yesterday afternoon. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Autumn… The Brambles were delish btw!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
More balsam bashing the other day (last day as there a poppin’). Came across this Elephant Hawk moth caterpillar. Quite the beast!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Whilst balsam bashing t’other day, saw this odd growth on brambles on the riverbank. Anyone any idea?
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
I like knapweed. Seemingly I’m not alone!
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Great sky yesterday in Swaledale after the first proper rain since June (it was heavy and very brief tho). Looking towards Gunnerside from Whitaside.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Noticed this in some Elm recently. I’ve tried to key it out for a moth leaf miner, but failed. Any ideas?
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
A few pix from North Gare Yesterday. Lovely n cloudy and not red hot thankfully made for a cracking ‘wander’. Third pic is a layer of Horsetail, followed by Red Clover, Yellow Rattle and Red Clover again.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The ones on The Stang I mentioned.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Essex Skipper anyone? Thought it was at the time but sadly only had phone with me. Windy too, hence rubbish pix.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Shout out to my current wife who joined Sustainable Swaledale “balsam bashing” at Scabba Wath (next to the R Swale) yesterday morning and then did another 4 hours on her own further upstream in the afternoon!
static.klipy.com
Leonardo DiCaprio Clapping - Very Good
ALT: Leonardo DiCaprio Clapping - Very Good
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Five species of Ragwort in the last couple of days. Common plus Hoary, Narrow-leaved, Oxford and Marsh (if I have my ID’s correct). Cinnabar caterpillars only seen on common tho. Anyone know if they use any other ragworts?
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Yesterday was Buzzard ringing day. Only one in the nest this year (usually 3, once 4).
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Happy Solstice peeps
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
I love Shieldbugs me! In this case a Red-Legged Shieldbug I believe.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
Arkengarthdale Northern Marsh Orchids* from last week. *They measure up correctly and look the part, but I’m well aware of Orchid ID pit-falls so any corrections welcome.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
A rather fine display of Common Rock-Rose near Fremington. I don’t think I’ve seen so many flowers on that colony before.
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Reposted by MartinWW
George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
History shows us there are 2 options when faced with a rising far right. 1. Deal with it quickly and decisively. 2. Let it win. The great majority reject it. But it doesn't need majority support: just enough thugs to intimidate everyone else. Weakness and indecision by government let it rise.
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Have I ever shown you my Musk Thistle? The older I get, the more thistles fascinate me🤪
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
A bit of news about what’s happening happening on our renaturing cluster heggscastlecluster.org/blog/
heggscastlecluster.org
Heggs-Castle Renaturing Project
A collaborative approach to nature restoration in Arkengarthdale, North Yorkshire
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MartinWW @swaledalebirds.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Being totally honest… no!
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