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Sandy Hill

@phoenixsandy

Retired Biology teacher devoting my free time to Natural History. Keen Birder, increasingly enthusiastic "Moth trapper" and dabbler in too many other groups! The coast has always been my happy place.

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30.10.2024
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Latest posts by Sandy Hill @phoenixsandy

A map shows the locations of BTO satellite tagged Cuckoos in Africa. The headshots of four Cuckoos appear in circular frames around the map, alongside the wording: First Cuckoo Update for 2026.

A map shows the locations of BTO satellite tagged Cuckoos in Africa. The headshots of four Cuckoos appear in circular frames around the map, alongside the wording: First Cuckoo Update for 2026.

1/ And they’re off! πŸ“’ Our BTO satellite-tagged Cuckoos are on the move! 🌍

Follow their migrations via our interactive map ➑️ www.bto.org/cuckoos #Ornithology πŸͺΆ

03.03.2026 18:07 πŸ‘ 146 πŸ” 46 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 6
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1st day of Spring, so lovely to find a dusting of blooms on Cherry Plum, P. cerasifera for #wildflowerhour this week. Reflexed sepals are great differentiator from Blackthorn. @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

01.03.2026 19:58 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
A Dark-edged Bee-fly sat on a leaf, basking in sunshine - library photo by @kitenet.bsky.social

A Dark-edged Bee-fly sat on a leaf, basking in sunshine - library photo by @kitenet.bsky.social

Bee-flies are go! A 1st #BeeFlyWatch record for 2026 is in, from east Surrey on 26 Feb. Look out for more during warm & sunny spells over coming weeks, & please send in sightings, via iRecord if possible. Full details on the @dipteristsforum.bsky.social website: dipterists.org.uk/bee-fly-watch

27.02.2026 21:11 πŸ‘ 62 πŸ” 16 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Measles was wiped out in the U.S. 25 years ago and now we’re already past 1,000 cases in February because vaccination rates dropped below the safety line. This is what happens when public health gets gutted and people stop trusting basic science.

25.02.2026 14:13 πŸ‘ 10425 πŸ” 3269 πŸ’¬ 490 πŸ“Œ 179
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Despite the moon Oak Beauty & perennially reliable Hebrew Character saved me from a Wogan last night to kick off my mothing year here in vc45. #teammoth @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social

25.02.2026 15:51 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Gorse, Ulex europaeus for #wildflowerhour this week in Pembroke. Luminous flowers & coconut scent warding off the wet stuff! @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

22.02.2026 20:02 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks John. Always reassuring for beasts I see less frequently.

22.02.2026 19:56 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Great to find my 1st Oil beetle of 2026 on #Pembrokeshire coastal path. Definitely a male & I think it's M. proscarabaeus, with pretty straight base to thorax? #coleoptera @coleopsoc.bsky.social @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social

22.02.2026 19:04 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Scientists Discover How To β€œSwitch Off” Cancer Genes for Good A new study shows that targeting key epigenetic proteins may permanently switch off cancer genes. Scientists at Monash University, working with Harvard University, report they have found a way to perm...

Oh, my goodness, this is a huge breakthrough in cancer research. This is another example of why it is crucially important to fund basic scientific research.
Scientists Discover How To β€œSwitch Off” Cancer Genes for Good share.google/WFhMJP5m3AK4...

19.02.2026 04:42 πŸ‘ 12507 πŸ” 3981 πŸ’¬ 299 πŸ“Œ 241
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DYK… Tree Lungwort isn’t just one organism β€” it’s multiple living together as one!

A fungus provides the structure while an algae inside makes the food.

Together, they create the bright green leafy lichen you see on the tree!πŸƒ

#TreeLungwort #Lichen

Find out more - https://loom.ly/nVD6XL4

19.02.2026 05:03 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Bright red female flowers of Hazel

Bright red female flowers of Hazel

Female floral fireworks alongside Hazel catkins for #wildflowerhour here in Pembroke this week. Nice reminder that Hazel is monoecious! @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

15.02.2026 19:59 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Cracking Male Red breasted Merg, actively feeding on Castle Pond, Pembroke now. Crippling views & great addition to patch life list #birdingWales #patch birding @birdtrack.bsky.social

02.02.2026 11:18 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Beautifully patterned contour feather. Alternating broad light then dark brown longitudinal stripes, placed either side of racist.

Beautifully patterned contour feather. Alternating broad light then dark brown longitudinal stripes, placed either side of racist.

Found a couple of beautiful contour feathers in amongst marshy grassland this morning. Can anyone ID them please? @rspb.bsky.social @btobirds.bsky.social #feathers

27.01.2026 14:29 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Great image Jane. Wish I'd thought of doing that, but I'd have struggled to include so many plants

18.01.2026 21:07 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Red Campion

Red Campion

Red Campion, Silene dioica for #WildflowerHour this week. Bright flowers a sign of better botanising ahead, here along #Pembrokeshire coastal path @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @wildflowersociety.bsky.social

18.01.2026 19:58 πŸ‘ 27 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Couple of hrs mooching between Fresh East & Swanlake Bay. Yellowhammer, Linnet & Skylark no-show, but Chough, Razorbill & my 1st Pemb. Dartford Warbler were ample compensation #birdingWales Yr list at 77, all within 12 miles of home #lowcarbonbirding

18.01.2026 18:49 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My favourite non fiction book of 2025. Couldn't recommend it too highly, as so well written #science #evolution @princetonupress.bsky.social

08.01.2026 17:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Child deaths outnumber homicide deaths in the United States.

Two-column bar chart comparing annual deaths (data for 2023). Left column: "Child deaths (under-15s, all causes)" β€” 30,200 deaths. Right column: "Homicides (all ages)" β€” 22,800 deaths. Subtitle notes that everyday tragedies of children dying from preterm birth, sepsis, and asphyxia receive far less media and public attention. Note: numbers rounded; approximately 1,000 child deaths were by homicide and are included in both columns. Data sources: UN IGME for child deaths; US CDC for homicides.

Child deaths outnumber homicide deaths in the United States. Two-column bar chart comparing annual deaths (data for 2023). Left column: "Child deaths (under-15s, all causes)" β€” 30,200 deaths. Right column: "Homicides (all ages)" β€” 22,800 deaths. Subtitle notes that everyday tragedies of children dying from preterm birth, sepsis, and asphyxia receive far less media and public attention. Note: numbers rounded; approximately 1,000 child deaths were by homicide and are included in both columns. Data sources: UN IGME for child deaths; US CDC for homicides.

Child deaths outnumber homicides in the United States, but get far less public attentionβ€”

(This Data Insight was written by @hannahritchie.bsky.social.)

It’s a widespread view that child deaths are still a pressing problem in poorer countries, but not in rich ones.

08.01.2026 16:18 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
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Great to see empty shop fronts given a festive face-lift here in #Pembrokeshire. V Joyeux Noel! #art #artadventcalendar #Christmas

05.12.2025 11:05 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Celebrating 50 years of butterfly monitoring
Celebrating 50 years of butterfly monitoring The UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme is celebrating its 50th survey season in 2025. This film highlights a few of the 2,500 volunteers who carry out butterfly surveys each year to contribute to the…

This #InternationalVolunteerDay, we're celebrating 50 years of incredible volunteer contribution to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme! πŸ¦‹

Hear from the dedicated volunteers who make the scheme possible πŸ‘‰ buff.ly/TEquScH

#UKBMS50

05.12.2025 10:02 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
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The 20 new Macro moths for garden this year in order of capture. #TeamMoth

18.11.2025 10:16 πŸ‘ 39 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 0
View of a beech wood looking up at the lovely autumnal orange foliage .
In the foreground, we see the fruit and a close-up of the leaves

View of a beech wood looking up at the lovely autumnal orange foliage . In the foreground, we see the fruit and a close-up of the leaves

β€œThe beech is one of our largest and most beautiful forest trees”
(Trees, 1963)
Artist: SR Badmin

17.11.2025 19:34 πŸ‘ 219 πŸ” 26 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
norfolkmoths.co.uk passes 3.5 million records

norfolkmoths.co.uk passes 3.5 million records

WOW! We have just passed 3.5 million records, it is certainly a record breaking year, details to come in December as I attempt a New for Norfolk advent calendar and post a species per day πŸ˜…... Yes we have had that many!!! #teammoth #norfolkmoths

17.11.2025 10:57 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2
Feathered Thorn

Feathered Thorn

My latest trapping session over past 5yrs produced 6 of 3 for garden actinic. Single figure temperatures didn't help, but Feathered Thorn is always a joy. I'll try again, as December moth eludes me. #TeamMoth @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social

16.11.2025 22:13 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Cycled from Neyland to Haverfordwest #Pembrokeshire today, along the v scenic #Brunel trail. A round trip of c30km. Carbon neutral & no rain! Hurrah.

13.11.2025 21:38 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Pink or Ballerina Waxcap. What a beauty

Pink or Ballerina Waxcap. What a beauty

Smoky Spindles, Clavaria fumosa. V distinctive & good predictor of good Waxcap sites, apparently

Smoky Spindles, Clavaria fumosa. V distinctive & good predictor of good Waxcap sites, apparently

Meadow Coral, Clavulinopsis corniculata.

Meadow Coral, Clavulinopsis corniculata.

Milford Cemetary (Part2) Had to include my first encounter with the 'Ballerina' What a beauty! #Biodiversity @britmycolsoc.org.uk

09.11.2025 20:59 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Scarlet Waxcap. Smooth rather slim stem differentiates this from Crimson

Scarlet Waxcap. Smooth rather slim stem differentiates this from Crimson

Crimson Waxcap - Larger, with deeper red-brown cap & chunky, fibrous stem

Crimson Waxcap - Larger, with deeper red-brown cap & chunky, fibrous stem

Snowy Waxcap on left, with small example of Meadow Waxcap to right. Meadow had lovely butterscotch colour to cap

Snowy Waxcap on left, with small example of Meadow Waxcap to right. Meadow had lovely butterscotch colour to cap

Not my best photo, but Lime green colour evident in stem & cap show this to be Citrine Waxcap

Not my best photo, but Lime green colour evident in stem & cap show this to be Citrine Waxcap

A tour of Milford Cemetary (part 1) with an expert produced quite the bounty, as photos below testify #Biodiversity @britmycolsoc.org.uk

09.11.2025 20:10 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

A good couple of hours thanks. I was in sponge mode cos we had v knowledgeable guide. We managed c. 10 Waxcap spp & some other allies. I'll post a few images later today. One stand out for me was being Ballerina for 1st time; pure delight.

09.11.2025 09:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Nice one! Blundered into this chap most unexpectedly whilst looking for Waxcaps in a Pembrokeshire cemetery this morning. We've had a good year for them out here. @savingbutterflies.bsky.social

08.11.2025 14:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Our #AutumnArrivalSpotlight is on the Whooper Swan.

These elegant swans fly in from Iceland, their trumpet-like calls echoing across UK wetlands as they gather for winter.

30.10.2025 11:44 πŸ‘ 253 πŸ” 31 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1