Dave Appleton

For more and better content, find me where the sky is blue.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

...enables harm and divison, please come and join me at Bluesky. It's not quite the same as X so if you want advice on how to get the most out of it by all means get in touch. You can find me there @applewildlife.bsky.social (3/3)

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

I have not posted here for a while, largely in response to X's embrace of racism, misogyny and rampant disinformation. X's purpose is now to serve its owner's political and personal agenda and its values are wholly incompatible with my own. (1/3)

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

I have found far more positive and genuine engagement on ad-free Bluesky and as that platform gains popularity it is becoming less of an echo-chamber and more a comminity for sharing and discussion. If like me you no longer wish to support a platform that… (2/3)

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@Spinkybird Hi Spinky, this is a domestic variant of Mallard - they come in all sorts of variations!

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

I’ve accrued more followers at BlueSky than I did in 13 years here.

It’s not all about numbers but the whole experience is much better.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@rlewington2 Thanks Richard

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@rlewington2 is it possible to ID this swift (I think) on my mid Norfolk patio last night? The extent of dark spots makes me wonder about Gold Swift but that seems unlikely - never seen one here and no bracken in my garden (neighbours might have some?).

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@FlyinginFordham @mickey_ratfink It’s already taken off! I was among those who tried Mastodon but that was too complicated and didn’t work as it was meant to. BlueSky is coping well despite a million new users every day at the moment. Most naturalists have either deactivated X or just stopped posting here.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@JeromeMayhew I’m no fan of Reeves but compared to all the true stories about senior Tory ministers over the last few years this is about as explosive as a damp squib.

You’re right that anything coming out of Jenrick or guidofawkes needs to be fact-checked. It’ll be misleading as best.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@ZarFrost Worth having a look at the feeds. They can be a bit slow and flaky at times but a lot of people use them to see content relating to various interests rather than (or as well as) the people they follow. But yes, it has started off quite left-leaning - I suspect that will reduce.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@StevenFalk1 @Theponker If you’re worried about having to rebuild a following there it’s worth bearing in mind that they have some good tools like starter packs that can really help. I’ve had more new followers there in the last week than I’ve had on X in years. It genuinely is a much nicer place too!

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@StevenFalk1 @Theponker It’s definitely greener at BlueSky at the moment. Can’t guarantee it always will be but right now if you want to be part of a social media community of naturalists you need to get over there quick. People say it’s just like Twitter used to be but it’s actually better!

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@IanNettletonUK I recommend a move to BlueSky - lots of others doing so today and over recent weeks. So much nicer there and a much more engaging (if still smaller) crowd.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@ailsamiller29 @DipteristsForum @flygirlNHM @NHM_SmallOrders Looking again at the others as I can’t see that anyone else has responded, I think the third one is Limoniidae.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@FlyinginFordham @mickey_ratfink You don’t even need to see their willy! I do mine alive but anaesthetised and they fly off unharmed (a bit sore maybe, and missing a few scales) the same morning.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@mickey_ratfink @MothTrapper48 Mine’s on every night regardless of weather. Only caught 3 moths and 1 caddis last night though (but the caddis was new for the year). Bit of a change from the 400 caddis two nights previous.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@MatthewWielicki Huh? The table literally says the opposite: it shows medium confidence that increased heavy precipitation and pluvial flood WILL emerge from 2050. Even for river flood it does not say there’s no significant change, only that either the evidence is lacking or signal not present.

[Dave Appleton @applewildlife]

@norfolkmoths @KevanBrett @JLowenWildlife @MOTHIDUK @trapsite I’ve sent you an email Jim but I’ve just dissected this and I believe it is indeed lacteella. I’ve based this on images at Dissection Group and Lepiforum so am hoping for an opportunity to check the European Pyralidae book, but looks spot on to me. @trapsite @MigrantMothUK