Ben Averis

Brilliant news! A very big "thank you" to you, Andrew, and to others in the Not Coul group, for all your hard work on this campaign.

In Edinburgh this morning. Later, looking at this photo I took on Cockburn Street, I thought "oh no - that damn van". I then saw that there are two vans (one moving and one parked), the photo having been taken at the exact moment when their front windows were aligned. I'm now quite pleased with it!

A Silver Y moth found by Alison Averis today here in East Lothian, Scotland. #TeamMoth

Interesting to find the moss Polytrichum strictum growing in good quantity on logs today, in open woodland in West Lothian, Scotland. An unusual habitat for this species, which is normally found on wet ground, especially in bogs.

My wife Alison found and photographed this Autumnal Rustic here in East Lothian, Scotland, this morning. Her first sighting of this species this summer. #TeamMoth

Unusual to see Wood Melick (Melica uniflora) forming an extensive dominant sward beneath a canopy of Douglas Fir. Near Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland, this afternoon.

Unusually late-flowering Purple Saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) in the Cairngorms, Scotland, today. This species normally flowers in early spring.

Red Underwing, found and photographed by Alison Averis in East Lothian, Scotland, on 15th August 2026. A rare species in Scotland. #TeamMoth

Calling all plant photographers (and anyone with a camera phone and a bit of a sense of aesthetics): The 2026 Botanical Photographer of the Year competition is open for entries! bsbi.org/take-part/ac... Relaunched with a 16-strong judging panel, plus Young BPotY categories as well! Get snapping 📷😁

Just refound and photographed the exact same view that I drew a picture of back in 2011. Location: near Ullapool, NW Scotland.

Just found myself in a first class train carriage for a few minutes before realising it. Seemed surprisingly normal. People looked the same as us, etc. Parallel universe stuff!

Marbled Coronet, found and photographed by Alison Averis in East Lothian on 24th June 2026. An inland record of a species that in Scotland is mainly coastal. #TeamMoth

Here's an exciting new role - Native Woodland Partnership Officer with @n-t-s.bsky.social - developing large-scale projects including #ScotlandsRainforest restoration projects in West Lochalsh & on Arran. Closing date: 21 Jun 2026 | Fixed-Term til Jan 2029 ➡️ buff.ly/3B0cE4f #NatureJobs #ForestryJobs

An unusual species mix just now in the NW ScottishHighlands: Bog Bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and the moss Antitrichia curtipendula. (Also some Blaeberry Vaccinium myrtillus.)

Mother Shipton moth found and photographed by Alison Averis in Wester Ross, Scotland, on 10th June 2026. #TeamMoth

Beginner botanists & 100 Plants Challengers - join myself, local #BSBICountyRecorder Sue Jury & Ranger Matt McCabe on Sunday 28th June for a day exploring the botanical delights of Holyrood Park and Arthur's Seat! So many fab plants! #100PlantsChallenge www.tickettailor.com/events/botan...

Fantastic colours of Sphagnum mosses and reflected sky in a bog pool in Perthshire, Scotland, this afternoon.

Here's an example of bog vegetation (with abundant Hare's-tail Cottongrass - Eriophorum vaginatum) on a surprisingly steep slope. I found this today, during survey work in the hills in Perthshire, Scotland.

🟢 @lornaslater.bsky.social elected to represent Edinburgh Central! Lorna is the first Scottish Green MSP to be elected today, and the first Scottish Green constituency MSP to be elected ever!

Lots of dead, blackened leaves on Hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna) in woodland at a site in West Lothian, Scotland, today. Not sure what has caused this.

A nice human touch just a few minutes ago: the ticket inspector drew a smiley face on my train ticket!

The moss Grimmia pulvinata on a Rowan trunk at Kinross service station, Scotland, yesterday. More commonly seen on rocks and stonework.

Here is Alison's photo of the Nut-tree Tussock moth that she had in her moth trap last night, here in East Lothian, Scotland. It put itself in a position in which its patterns match those of the bark. #TeamMoth

Great to see @ross-greer.bsky.social of the Scottish Greens deal with that Reform guy so well. Very good work.

My long experience of trying to source good quality ingredients when in the US makes me completely agree with this demonstration. Compare with France, where it’s actually harder to find processed crap than good fresh, unadulterated ingredients.

Reserves Manager - North (Highlands) - Scottish Wildlife Trust - environmentjob.co.uk/jobs/109907-...

Amazing lit-up skyscraper in Barcelona last night.

Japanese onigiri! Bought just now from a shop in Barcelona. Haven't seen these in a shop since I was in Japan in 2018. Had them then as daily fieldwork food during survey work in Hokkaido.

NEWS: @rspb.bsky.social advice on bird feeding; Feed Seasonally, Feed Safely. My blog: markavery.info/2026/04/10/g... I think the RSPB has called this right. @btobirds.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @alexanderlees.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk

Tame Cattle Egrets! In a busy park in the middle of Barcelona.

Shoulder Stripe, Twin-spotted Quaker and Water Carpet moths found and photographed by my wife Alison here in East Lothian, Scotland, this morning (8th April 2026). #TeamMoth

The Duke is coneless ... I repeat, the Duke is coneless ... this is not a drill ... Can all available Guardians of the Cone please report to their assigned posts as soon as possible to rectify the situation. #glasgow #dukeofwellington #roadcone #glasgowhumour

I'm sure Mondrian's cheese sandwiches would have been superior to mine!

SHORT STORY COMPETITION? What happened here? Cut flowers left at the base of a tree behind the National Monument on Calton Hill? A memorial? A date that ended badly? An offering for someone at tomorrow's Independence Rally, but perhaps they will wilt? What do you think?

Here is a Common Quaker moth found and photographed by my wife Alison here in East Lothian, Scotland, this morning. #TeamMoth

Amazed to see -97C in Antarctica today on the Ventusky weather app! The 'Feels like temperature' given for this location/time was -127C. I wonder how accurate these figures are. It also showed +46C in NE Africa at the same time: a difference of 143C between hottest and coldest places on the planet.

Just stepped back to photograph this luxuriant population of Navelwort (Umbilicus rupestris) on rocks, and found that I was 'photobombed' (if that term can apply to something stationary) by a great population of the uncommon lichen Ricasolia amplissima on an oak trunk! Location: Argyll, Scotland.

In a B&B in Argyll just now. Opening these plastic water bottles must be more of a job than we would normally expect!

Here’s Physconia distorta, so spectacularly lit from the lower right-hand quarter, and… a northern Long-tailed Tit Some have said they judge the latter quite the better of the two Yes or no? Does it matter? Please weigh in and state your view!

Two shopping centres in one day! 1. Edinburgh 2. Inverness

A Lichen Tortrix, also known as 'Mini Merv' (Acleris literana), found and photographed by my wife Alison Averis here in East Lothian, SE Scotland, this morning (9th March 2026). #TeamMoth

Excited to find the tiny western oceanic liverwort Colura calyptrifolia new to East Lothian (SE Scotland) today. Two small tufts of it in a damp area of woodland: one on a Downy Birch (Betula pubescens) trunk and the other on a fallen Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).

It's clear this is an illegal war. There's not much left to consider.

Over 1000 civilians dead, and we're letting Trump use UK bases to further his war. Britain should stand firm against Trump's illegal warmongering, and stop these bombers landing on UK soil.

One of Alex Morss's hats: Trustee for the Bristol Nats Recent news - they've dumped the place run by Mr What's-his-face who turned it into something rotten Sold his soul. Now forgotten by the learned nature folk happier in woods of oak, fields of flowers, shores of sand: everywhere a wonderland

Day 1. Hope is already feeling a lot more normal again. Join.greenparty.org.uk

A warning to those who go killing the moss Your Karma will come, because Nature Is Boss You will also incite The Bryologist’s Curse, which will make the whole business considerably worse!

From Yorkshire they came in a whirr and a whizz of a teleport game for which yellow high-vis is rule number one, so no-one gets lost, and the coats they all come at affordable cost from a specialist shop in the city of Leeds called "Costume & Prop for Theatrical Needs"