The Weather Outlook

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NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
07 September 2026 08:42:43

I'd not seen it, but knew it was planned - there's a handy website called the Project 2025 Observer which keeps an eye on the various policies in its namesake document, and so far Trump has been going through them one-by-one. Delisting wolves was on there.

https://www.project2025.observer/en?sort=agency-asc&agencies=Dept.+of+the+Interior 

The broader picture is that wolves have always been a political hot potato, and for a couple of decades now they've pinged between being protected or not: generally Republicans want to shoot them (or worse - i.e. poisoning with strychnine), the Democrats want to protect them, and as you'd expect views are largely split amongst urban/rural dwellers along similar lines. 

At the wolf centre we were often asked about it, and indeed we had various US officials come and talk about it at our annual seminars. There's an element of "if you have a hunting season it lessens illegal killings" about it all, and indeed when they're fully protected the 3S rule is very much in effect (shoot, shovel, shut up). OTOH you have the opposite in 2013 in Wisconsin, where it was open season for a couple of weeks and they killed around a quarter of their wolves - they were easy targets as they'd largely lost their "there's a human, I'm dead unless I run away" behaviour. (When they're not persecuted, wolves tend to ignore people, or treat them with mild curiosity, as Arctic wolves still do).

I've no doubt that when the Democrats get back in there'll be some more protections reintroduced, and so the cycle continues.

Originally Posted by: Retron 

Wolves the tip of an iceberg.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2025 

Donald B. Ayer, the deputy attorney general under George H. W. Bush, said,

Project 2025 seems to be full of a whole array of ideas that are designed to let Donald Trump function as a dictator, by completely eviscerating many of the restraints built into our system. He really wants to destroy any notion of a rule of law in this country ... The reports about Donald Trump's Project 2025 suggest that he is now preparing to do a bunch of things totally contrary to the basic values we have always lived by. If Trump were to be elected and implement some of the ideas he is apparently considering, no one in this country would be safe.


Vale of the Great Dairies

South Dorset

Elevation 60m 197ft

Roger Parsons
11 September 2026 05:34:04
Our 55kHz* Soprano Pipistrelle bats went to roost at 5.50am today. Only 2 weeks ago in was more often 4-4.30am. Reflects the clear weather plus the change in day length and resulting hunting time, rather than temperature. The cut off point for that is usually around 7°C. Rain and wind can be more of an issue.

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/how-to-see-uk-bats-and-give-them-a-helping-hand.html 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

Retron
11 September 2026 13:47:04
Today must be dragonfly day! 8 or 9 yellow dragonflies and two blue ones flying around the garden today, the most I've ever had. They all appeared today, presumably having emerged from my pond at the same time.

And I've attracted a squirrel too... impressive considering I'm surrounded by roads and the sort of houses which have paved over their gardens, or turned them into small sterile squares of either plastic or normal grass! I think it's been attracted by my hazel trees...


Leysdown, north Kent
The Beast from the East
11 September 2026 16:26:21
Saw a hornet in the garden.  First time ever in all my life here.  It moved more slowly than a wasp. I hope they dont make a nest in the roof though.  Had plenty of wasp nests over the years.  Ant powder usually does the trick if you can get access


Purley, Surrey, 70m ASL

"We have some alternative facts for you"

Kelly-Ann Conway - former special adviser to the President

DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
12 September 2026 06:55:21

Saw a hornet in the garden.  First time ever in all my life here.  It moved more slowly than a wasp. I hope they dont make a nest in the roof though.  Had plenty of wasp nests over the years.  Ant powder usually does the trick if you can get access

Originally Posted by: The Beast from the East 

My sister had a hornet nest on her smallholding. She said that unlike wasps who soon lose interest and stop chasing if disturbed, hornets keep on coming.


I can calculate the movements of stars, but not the madness of men - Isaac Newton

Chichester 12m asl

Roger Parsons
12 September 2026 07:19:56

My sister had a hornet nest on her smallholding. She said that unlike wasps who soon lose interest and stop chasing if disturbed, hornets keep on coming.

Originally Posted by: DEW 

Did they have yellow legs? The Yellow-legged or Asian Hornet is the spp that concerns beekeepers.

https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/citizen-science/asian-hornet 

Identifying hornets

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/have-you-found-hornet 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
12 September 2026 08:11:56

Did they have yellow legs? The Yellow-legged or Asian Hornet is the spp that concerns beekeepers.

https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/citizen-science/asian-hornet 

Identifying hornets

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify/have-you-found-hornet 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 

There are posters around here with the warnings.


Vale of the Great Dairies

South Dorset

Elevation 60m 197ft

DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
12 September 2026 08:46:52
Trump vs snail

Rare snail presents fresh hurdle to Trump Doonbeg ballroom plan

https://www.thejournal.ie/snail-trump-doonbeg-7139105-Aug2026/ 


I can calculate the movements of stars, but not the madness of men - Isaac Newton

Chichester 12m asl

Roger Parsons
12 September 2026 11:23:30

Trump vs snail

Rare snail presents fresh hurdle to Trump Doonbeg ballroom plan

https://www.thejournal.ie/snail-trump-doonbeg-7139105-Aug2026/ 

Originally Posted by: DEW 

If snail trumps Trump we should have a national celebration. 🍷🍷🍷 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

Roger Parsons
12 September 2026 14:43:17
Those who know and love the Scilly Isles will appreciate this story. [If you can open it.]

Farewell to the ‘Vomit Comet’, the legendary Isles of Scilly ferry retiring after 50 years 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activity-and-adventure/farewell-vomit-comet-isle-of-scilly-ferry-retiring/ 

Also see:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gavin-haines-79188537_farewell-to-the-vomit-comet-then-the-activity-7504156404564312064-Wttp/ 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

Steve
15 September 2026 12:46:00

My sister had a hornet nest on her smallholding. She said that unlike wasps who soon lose interest and stop chasing if disturbed, hornets keep on coming.

Originally Posted by: DEW 

Many years ago, when I was a child, we were camping in the New Forest, and had a very close encounter with a hornet.

My Mum had very curly hair and a hornet was flying around near her so my Dad tried to bat it away. Unfortunately he batted it straight into my Mum's hair - where it got stuck. A tense few minutes followed while they tried to get it out, which they did successfully without getting stung.

It was a very scary experience and I still remember it in detail even over 50 years ago. I've only seen a couple since then, but I made sure I stayed well clear of them !

fairweather
18 September 2026 15:43:19
If you doubt the quality of the Thames when no storms have been involved for some time 17 long-finned pilot whales swam East from London passing close to me at Tilbury yesterday but I didn't get the chance to see them. I must have missed it on the news or media. 

Thankfully these look like they are well on their way back to the Estuary. Happens now and again and these stray whales (actually large dolphins in this case) look like they will survive.

UserPostedImage


S.Essex, 42m ASL
Roger Parsons
28 September 2026 16:17:53
Very pleased to see an old "friend" today. A little green spider - Nigma walckenaeri - which likes to build its web in grooves on plants or buildings. 

We've recorded it here several times over the past 8 years. This time it's on our front door.

Nature Spot

https://www.naturespot.org/species/nigma-walckenaeri 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

bledur
29 September 2026 05:01:31

Today must be dragonfly day! 8 or 9 yellow dragonflies and two blue ones flying around the garden today, the most I've ever had. They all appeared today, presumably having emerged from my pond at the same time.

And I've attracted a squirrel too... impressive considering I'm surrounded by roads and the sort of houses which have paved over their gardens, or turned them into small sterile squares of either plastic or normal grass! I think it's been attracted by my hazel trees...

Originally Posted by: Retron 

Huge number of Grey Squirrels here this year , never seen so many. Where you might see one or two you now see 5 or 6 . Population has exploded , not sure why although last year was a Bumper year for nuts and fruit e.t.c. so maybe that is it.

 Saw lots of Red Squirrels on Arran last year and also many up at families place near Bonar Bridge. There seem to be more of those as well.

 Going to Eigg shortly, no Red Squirrels there but looks an interesting little island.

Roger Parsons
29 September 2026 05:21:06
2 caps of Suillellus luridus [the Lurid Bolete] on the lawn this week. It's a regular.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/824777-Suillellus-luridus 


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

Roger Parsons
19 October 2026 15:48:27
There was a Fungus Foray in a local Limewood yesterday. In my many years of fungus hunting I've never known such a poor result. A couple of "little brown jobs", one a nice specimen of Psathyrella fusca , a 'Brittlestem'. Nothing outstanding or edible!!!!

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Psathyrella-fusca-Schumach-A-Pearson-AH-40386-a-Basidiomas-b-e-Cistidios-f_fig6_320558298 

The fact that the foray leader was pleased about it will tell you all you need to know - it's been a poor fungus seasons - and no wonder.


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

Devonian
19 October 2026 16:39:44

There was a Fungus Foray in a local Limewood yesterday. In my many years of fungus hunting I've never know such a poor result. A couple of "little brown jobs", one a nice specimen of Psathyrella fusca , a 'Brittlestem'. Nothing outstanding or edible!!!!

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Psathyrella-fusca-Schumach-A-Pearson-AH-40386-a-Basidiomas-b-e-Cistidios-f_fig6_320558298 

The fact that the foray leader was pleased about it will tell you all you need to know - it's been a poor fungus seasons - and no wonder.

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 

Quite a lot of field mushrooms have sprung up after every ~10mm rainfall this autumn. But I've not seen much else.

So this  may not be happening...

Roger Parsons
20 October 2026 06:03:29

Quite a lot of field mushrooms have sprung up after every ~10mm rainfall this autumn. But I've not seen much else.

So this  may not be happening...

Originally Posted by: Devonian 

Morning, Dev. Yes - I saw that link and thought it over-optimstic. "Record mushroom sightings predicted this autumn" 😬 However, this week's rain may push thing on a bit. I hope so. I am off to the dentist this morning and may have a look in one of the woods I pass on the way home to see if there is any action. Nothing wrong with field mushrooms of course. It amazes me that mushroom growers have not made more of an effort the produce a product with a real taste and aroma. I still buy them and rant about that!


RogerP

West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire

Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.

William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830

NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
26 October 2026 10:52:24
Copied from the Drought thread to here, where I think it's more relevant.

Haven’t you seen the half decayed animal carcasses around the cracked and dusty watering holes? Honestly the streams and rivers…in mid and west Cornwall are low but all have water running freely into the sea.

All of that water is from ground water and mine run off so there is plenty of water down below.

There is but perhaps not the right kind of water if it is rich in metals. Though there is hope to a degree.

https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.09.731039v1 

https://www.fba.org.uk/articles/heavy-metal-trout-in-hard-rock-rivers 


Vale of the Great Dairies

South Dorset

Elevation 60m 197ft

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