Bath Nature

A Cormorant perched on a tree branch

A rather handsome Cormorant perched on a tree by the lake at Newton Park (Bath Spa University campus), at Newton St Loe, near #Bath #Somerset #UK. Plenty of fish in that lake, which is the main diet of these birds.
#Nature #Wildlife #Bird #Birds #UKWildlife #Birdwatching #UKBirding

A Bloody-nosed Beetle - a large black beetle with metallic blue sheen

Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa) - a large and flightless beetle that can often be seen in early spring, and feed on members of the bedstraw family. Their common name derives from a red liquid they produce when threatened.
#Nature #Wildlife #UKWildlife #Beetle #Insect

I'd love to take a look at some point. I know the area well & could probably give you a few ideas. I've been surveying a few other sites around that way including Watership Farm, on the opposite side of the river. After my spring visit, I'll be writing a report, which I'm sure they'll share with you

I've not had chance to go there yet. But quite likely, I've head they can be found along the river out that way.

A Glow-worm larva on a leaf.

A Glow-worm larva in the outskirts of Bath yesterday. Not a worm, but a beetle larva! The adult females can sometimes be seen in the lanes away from built-up areas, where they emit a green glow in order to attract the winged males.
#Insect #Beetle #Nature #Wildlife #UKWildlife

A group of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars on a web in vegetation.

A group of Marsh Fritillary caterpillars on a web in vegetation.

The Marsh Fritillary butterfly caterpillars have survived the winter at their only site in the Bath area. I found several groups of caterpillars (about 200 in total) sunbathing in their meadow.
#Nature #Wildlife #Butterfly #Caterpillar #Insect #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

He said "Probably Trichia varia (need microscope to confirm) which will darken slightly as is it ripens. Under the microscope the spores and threads are bright golden yellow. The capillitial threads have spiral thickening so that as they dry they twist and flick the spores away."

Thank you. I'm no expert on slime moulds, but I showed the photo to my former university supervisor, Alan Feest, who is our local expert.

Not many flowers here either. I gave this bee a lift to the only flower I could find in a large meadow.

Queen Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) I found this morning that had just awoken from hibernation. I gave her a lift to the nearest flower, and she instantly started feeding. In #Bath #Somerset #UK.
#Nature #Wildlife #Insect #Bee #Bumblebee #Spring #Flower

Wow - he's done well to keep that patch for that long! My Robin has had his patch for nearly 3.5 years, although the boundaries of it change slightly every year. He has just got himself a nice patch of willow scrub - it's his favourite spot now.

A slime mould, probably Tricia varia - a common species often found on wet wood. The orange spheres are the sporangia, the fruiting bodies. Despite their appearance and name, they aren't fungi, but a collective of single-celled organisms that can move.
#Nature #Wildlife #SlimeMold

My Robin friend Little Mate singing this afternoon. The most important thing to a Robin is its territory, and he keeps it by singing regularly around the boundaries of it.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

Didn't go to the farm shop today, but I often stop by there for a snack and to see the goats.

The larva of a Black-headed Cardinal beetle on a log. The larva is elongata, yellow with numerous segments and with two spines at the rear.

Close-up of the rear spines of a larva of a Black-headed Cardinal beetle on a log.

Larva of a Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea) under the bark of a log at Newton St Loe, near #Bath today. Distinguished from the common Red-headed Cardinal by the lack of lateral teeth on the rear spines #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #ukwildlife #bathnature #insect #beetle

They get to know people who visit them regularly. It's a wonderful experience. When they really get to know you, they'll stay and chat after eating - sometimes for up to an hour!

My #Robin friend Little Mate taking a snack this evening. We had a good chat and then he had his very important singing to do.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK​
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife​

🤣

Thanks! The only good one out of about 200 I took this morning!

‘We feel kinda bad when a solo bird shows up’: Canada sees its first European robin – but how did it get there? Birdwatchers flock to Montréal for rare sighting of ‘vagrant’ bird that has made its home during a bitterly cold winter

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Goldcrest - I watched this tiny bird foraging in a willow tree for a good 20 minutes. They rarely stay still, so photographing them is a real challenge, especially on a cloudy February day.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife #birdphotography

My Robin friend Little Mate singing today. Nesting season is not far off! In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

My Robin friend Little Mate today. He's very chatty at the moment. Breeding season isn't far off, and he's spending most of his time singing, chasing off rivals and turning down potential mates - he already has one. #nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

Scarlet Elf Cup on a woodland floor

Scarlet Elf Cup, brightening up the woodland floors around Newton St Loe right now. Near #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #ukwildlife #bathnature #fungi #mushroom

Snowdrop flowers in a wood

Snowdrops in flower all around the woods in Newton St Loe, near #Bath #Somerset #UK.
#nature #wildlife #wildflower #plants #wildlifephotography #Naturephotography #NewYearPlantHunt

I've been a bit quiet on here lately, been busy trying to get a few projects finished. All is good. Anyway, here's my Robin friend Little Mate today. I put up a new bird box for him yesterday.
#nature #wildlife #bird

Herb Robert

Common Ragwort

Field Forget-me-not

Red Dead-nettle

Final batch of photos from the New Year Plant Hunt (organised by @bsbibotany.bsky.social) in Bath City Centre yesterday - Herb Robert, Common Ragwort, Field Forget-me-not and Red Dead-nettle
#nature #wildlife #wildflower #plants #wildlifephotography #Naturephotography #NewYearPlantHunt

Shaggy Soldier

Winter Heliotrope

Winter Aconite

Lenten-rose

More photos from the New Year Plant Hunt (organised by
@bsbibotany.bsky.social) in Bath City Centre yesterday - Shaggy Soldier, Winter Heliotrope, Winter Aconite and Lenten-rose.
#nature #wildlife #wildflower #plants #wildlifephotography #Naturephotography #NewYearPlantHunt

Thank you! Great to meet you yesterday!

Early Dog-violet

Wood Avens

Green Alkanet

Stinking Hellebore

More photos from the New Year Plant Hunt (organised by @bsbibotany.bsky.social) in Bath City Centre yesterday - Early Dog-violet, Wood Avens, Green Alkanet and Stinking Hellebore.
#nature #wildlife #wildflower #plants #wildlifephotography #Naturephotography #NewYearPlantHunt