Chris Foster
@chrisfoster.bsky.social
The twit formerly known as hatbirder. Insects, birds, etc. Lecturer in ecology / entomology at University of Reading. See also @carabidaeuk.bsky.social.
Wild grown Quercus robur and meadow ant mounds on the University of Reading campus in an area left unmanaged since 2019. This being mostly a landscaped park we also have an area with Quercus robur, palustris and ilex saplings popping up alongside each other 🤷
Two hobbies over calling, fantastic.
Two hobbies over calling, fantastic.
September 29, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Wild grown Quercus robur and meadow ant mounds on the University of Reading campus in an area left unmanaged since 2019. This being mostly a landscaped park we also have an area with Quercus robur, palustris and ilex saplings popping up alongside each other 🤷
Two hobbies over calling, fantastic.
Two hobbies over calling, fantastic.
Plenty of bees both Ivy and Honey but flies and wasps feel very thin on the ground this flowering ivy season
September 26, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Plenty of bees both Ivy and Honey but flies and wasps feel very thin on the ground this flowering ivy season
Reposted by Chris Foster
Reposted by Chris Foster
This week we had a brilliant 175th birthday party for the official mascot of the @colezoology.bsky.social - Norman the Asian Elephant.
An ex-circus elephant, Norman died in 1867, and was bought by the University in 1921 for the price of £30!
Happy birthday Norman! 🎉🎁🐘🎂
An ex-circus elephant, Norman died in 1867, and was bought by the University in 1921 for the price of £30!
Happy birthday Norman! 🎉🎁🐘🎂
September 24, 2026 at 8:36 AM
This week we had a brilliant 175th birthday party for the official mascot of the @colezoology.bsky.social - Norman the Asian Elephant.
An ex-circus elephant, Norman died in 1867, and was bought by the University in 1921 for the price of £30!
Happy birthday Norman! 🎉🎁🐘🎂
An ex-circus elephant, Norman died in 1867, and was bought by the University in 1921 for the price of £30!
Happy birthday Norman! 🎉🎁🐘🎂
Reposted by Chris Foster
Far-right domestic terrorists closing down a lifeboat station is no the big enough news story that it ought to be.
Lifeboat station in Portsmouth forced to temporarily shut after far-right action
Lifeboat station in Portsmouth forced to temporarily shut after far-right action
RNLI facility had been affected by attempts by activists to stop asylum seekers landing in boats from the Channel
A lifeboat station on the south coast of England near the spot where far-right activists tried to stop asylum seekers landing has been forced to temporarily close, it has emerged.
The station in Portsmouth shut after it and other sites run by the RNLI were targeted by people objecting to the lifeboat charity going to the aid of people trying to get to the UK on small boats. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 18, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Far-right domestic terrorists closing down a lifeboat station is no the big enough news story that it ought to be.
Apparently I missed my calling in life
August 24, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Apparently I missed my calling in life
Yarrow: "what drought?"
August 22, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Yarrow: "what drought?"
Ok that's enough summer this year thanks bye.
August 4, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Ok that's enough summer this year thanks bye.
2019: climate emergency
2022: climate dread
2026: climate despair
2022: climate dread
2026: climate despair
July 30, 2026 at 10:10 AM
2019: climate emergency
2022: climate dread
2026: climate despair
2022: climate dread
2026: climate despair
Pleased with this portrait of the bug Liorhyssus hyalinus, with eggs, in our garden this evening. Another species new to me elsewhere locally in the last week or two.
July 29, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Pleased with this portrait of the bug Liorhyssus hyalinus, with eggs, in our garden this evening. Another species new to me elsewhere locally in the last week or two.
My first Comfrey Ermine a few mins walk from home at the weekend, first for the garden briefly resting on our out of control sage this evening. What a splendid little animal.
July 29, 2026 at 8:24 PM
My first Comfrey Ermine a few mins walk from home at the weekend, first for the garden briefly resting on our out of control sage this evening. What a splendid little animal.
Reposted by Chris Foster
As climate change impacts accelerate, these peatland areas continue to dry out during heatwaves. Why? Because they’re not wet enough. Wet peat doesn’t burn. I’ve just returned from a week staying on the best managed upland estate I’ve ever seen. Everywhere was damp or oozing wet. In mid-July.
I join you from the Blaenavon wildfire in Southeast Wales, brought to you by BP, Shell and Equinor. Though it does not look dramatic, the fire has been out of control for days - for a very particular reason. 🧵
July 26, 2026 at 7:44 AM
As climate change impacts accelerate, these peatland areas continue to dry out during heatwaves. Why? Because they’re not wet enough. Wet peat doesn’t burn. I’ve just returned from a week staying on the best managed upland estate I’ve ever seen. Everywhere was damp or oozing wet. In mid-July.
So much for the rain. It wasn't going to be enough anyway.
July 26, 2026 at 7:39 AM
So much for the rain. It wasn't going to be enough anyway.
Presumably these just keep growing back so you don't need to buy another packet
July 25, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Presumably these just keep growing back so you don't need to buy another packet
My Salvia brings all the bees to my yard
July 25, 2026 at 8:28 AM
My Salvia brings all the bees to my yard
"Will there be a drought". I don't know. Are bears Catholic?
How can I water my garden in a hosepipe ban and will there be drought this summer?
Millions of people in southern England and parts of Wales face restrictions after prolonged periods of hot weather
www.theguardian.com
July 21, 2026 at 3:13 PM
"Will there be a drought". I don't know. Are bears Catholic?
Finally a nice temperature in the middle of the day. Now for some rain please 😫
July 18, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Finally a nice temperature in the middle of the day. Now for some rain please 😫
Now with additional extraordinary, average air temperature for July running a whole 5 degrees above the 1991 - 2020 average for Reading
July 15, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Now with additional extraordinary, average air temperature for July running a whole 5 degrees above the 1991 - 2020 average for Reading
Daily forecasts two weeks out aren't really worth much but it's nonetheless alarming to see 7 of the next 14 days on the BBC weather app at 30+, and the rest with highs of 28 or 29. Some tentative signs of rain at least but unlikely enough and damp with 28+ will feel super sticky #doomed
July 12, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Daily forecasts two weeks out aren't really worth much but it's nonetheless alarming to see 7 of the next 14 days on the BBC weather app at 30+, and the rest with highs of 28 or 29. Some tentative signs of rain at least but unlikely enough and damp with 28+ will feel super sticky #doomed
I can't believe anyone actually likes this weather. They're either lying to themselves or everyone else.
July 10, 2026 at 1:28 PM
I can't believe anyone actually likes this weather. They're either lying to themselves or everyone else.
Reposted by Chris Foster
For Reading area folk, the film 'The Little Things That Run The World' is showing at Reading Biscuit Factory next Tuesday, followed by a panel discussion featuring our very own @chrisfoster.bsky.social. Come for the bug pix, stay for the bug chat! www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/movie/ttr-pr...
TTR presents The Little Things That Run the World + Short Film + Panel Discussion
In collaboration with Transition Town Reading, as part of Reading Climate Festival, RBF presents a special documentary screening of The Little Things That Run the World. The Little Things that Ru...
www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk
July 10, 2026 at 10:34 AM
For Reading area folk, the film 'The Little Things That Run The World' is showing at Reading Biscuit Factory next Tuesday, followed by a panel discussion featuring our very own @chrisfoster.bsky.social. Come for the bug pix, stay for the bug chat! www.readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk/movie/ttr-pr...
Shaping up to be the most extraordinary run of warm months as recorded on the @unirdg-met.bsky.social field station.
July 8, 2026 at 11:24 PM
Shaping up to be the most extraordinary run of warm months as recorded on the @unirdg-met.bsky.social field station.
Reposted by Chris Foster
A cluster of records for Polistichus connexus from the June heatwave, increasingly common at light on hot nights (usually see egg boxes or moth scales in the record images!)
2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest.
📸Stephen French via iRecord
2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest.
📸Stephen French via iRecord
July 5, 2026 at 1:38 PM
A cluster of records for Polistichus connexus from the June heatwave, increasingly common at light on hot nights (usually see egg boxes or moth scales in the record images!)
2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest.
📸Stephen French via iRecord
2026 records filling in some gaps in the spread northwest.
📸Stephen French via iRecord
Best approach to today honestly
June 24, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Best approach to today honestly