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Alan Watson Featherstone

ECOLOGIST, NATURE PHOTOGRAPHER AND INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER
FOUNDER OF THE AWARD-WINNING CHARITY TREES FOR LIFE

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birch

A shieldbug extravaganza, part 1

Findhorn Hinterland: 28 August 2020 10 Comments

Final instar nymphs of parent bugs (Elasmucha grisea) on the leaf of a silver birch (Betula pendula) on the Findhorn Hinterland.

On 1st August 2020 I was making my monthly round of the Findhorn Hinterland area to check the series of 6 pitfall traps we’ve installed for an ongoing survey of spiders there. To reach the first couple of trap sites I had to pass a prominent cluster of three large, multi-trunked silver birch trees (Betula pendula) that have grown closely together, and I often stop to have a look at them, to see if there is anything of interest on their leaves.

[Read more…] about A shieldbug extravaganza, part 1

Tagged With: biodiversity, birch, Findhorn, insects, shieldbug

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My TEDx talk – Restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest.

TEDx TEDx – Restoring the Caledonian Forest

Recent posts

  • The abundant life of dead wood, part 3
  • The abundant life of dead wood, part 2
  • The abundant life of dead wood, part 1
  • Gannets galore, part 2
  • Gannets galore, part 1

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  • Revised dates for our next Rewilding workshop: 15 – 22 October 2022.

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    Ecologist, nature photographer and inspirational speaker. Founder of the award-winning charity Trees for Life that is restoring the Caledonian Forest.

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    alanwatsonfeat1 Alan Watson Featherstone @alanwatsonfeat1 ·
    23 Oct

    Autumn colours of aspen trees (Populus tremula) & a downy birch (Betula pubescens), with old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) reflected in Loch Beinn a'Mheadhoin, in the Caledonian Forest in Glen Affric earlier this week.

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    rainmaker1973 Massimo @rainmaker1973 ·
    22 Oct

    Chlorophyll and Hemoglobin

    The major difference is that plant blood carries a Magnesium (Mg) molecule where our blood contains a Iron (Fe) molecule.

    Magnesium is what is responsible for making plant blood green, and iron is what makes our blood red.

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    amazingnature00 Amazing Nature @amazingnature00 ·
    23 Oct

    ☁️ A Wall Between Worlds — Rare Cloud Formation Over Texas 🇺🇸

    A woman captured this rare moment showing a perfectly straight storm front dividing day from night. The contrast between the dark thunderclouds and the glowing sunset sky looks almost unreal — a breathtaking reminder…

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