Alistair

Naturalist & curator. All opinions expressed are my own. Except for the ones that aren't.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

“That’ll do”

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@SheffMuseums @CRTYorkshireNE @BridgesCanal @CanalRiverTrust @sheffield_canal @theblueloop @CuratorClara Sounds right to me. Although I am a zoologist. I can confirm that there are red-eyed damselflies under that bridge!

[Alistair @listairmclean]

Taking advantage of lockdown easing and the sunny weather to check whether the Rivelin is suitable for a @_BCT_ Daubenton's Bat survey later this year. Needs 10 spots over a 1km stretch with good access to the water. Looking good! @rivelin_valley @SorbyNatHisSoc @shefmuseums

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@mylafish @SheffMuseums @CVPantling And this is the Tawny Owl @CVPantling was remembering...

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@mylafish @SheffMuseums @CVPantling We have 8 specimens of owl currently on display (11 if you're a strict traditionalist and include the Caprimulgiformes as part of the Strigiformes). All of the British species are represented, including this Long-eared chap.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@mylafish @CVPantling @SheffMuseums I’m on leave today but will try to check it out tomorrow. We should have some photos of the owls on display.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@CVPantling @mylafish @SheffMuseums Yes. We have at least one of every locally breeding species of owl on display.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@ClareStarkie1 @JonnBradley Prizes all round. I was just pleased to get a half decent shot at distance with my phone.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

Can you tell what it is?

[Alistair @listairmclean]

We’ve discovered that the dog likes fire. Watching it and curling up in front of it.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@MuseumSheffield Spike was named by popular vote, but he was very nearly named Elvis o’Horn. Thankfully, Horny McHornface wasn’t suggested.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

Buzzards x3 over Northern General hospital.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@FDukalskis @MuseumSheffield @AskACurator I think the Tyrannosaurus might cause a bit of consternation. And as much as I like Spike the woolly rhino, I don’t think he’d be too keen on staying put.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@JackieWthefirst @MuseumSheffield @MarthaILawrence @AskACurator @CuratorClara @liz_ardillo @LeighKitty1 Specifically from Sheffield, the oldest things we have are around 320 million years old. They're usually fossil plants, such as this Lepidodendron found in Brightside in the 1890s...

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@MarthaILawrence @MuseumSheffield @JackieWthefirst @AskACurator @CuratorClara @liz_ardillo @LeighKitty1 If you want to be absolutely technical, the first thing acquired by Sheffield Literary & Philosophical Society was Jonathan Salt's collection of pressed plants. And the oldest specimen in this collection is this strawberry clover from 1773.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@MarthaILawrence @MuseumSheffield @JackieWthefirst @AskACurator @CuratorClara @liz_ardillo @LeighKitty1 Although the first thing 'accessioned' into the collection was this duck-billed platypus (accession number: A1), donated by Sheffield Literary & Philosophical Society. The Lit & Phil formed the core of the public museum's collections.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@MuseumofOxford @MuseumSheffield @AskACurator I’ve got this broom...

[Alistair @listairmclean]

@MuseumofOxford @MuseumSheffield @AskACurator There’s a rifle in the @museumSheffield firearms collection, which was apparently made by my great x3 grandfather. Although it’s deactivated, so I’d have to hit them with it. I haven’t thought this through.

[Alistair @listairmclean]

Harthill reservoir today for dragonflies. Brown hawkers are our in force!