The Bee Orchids are up on the front lawn/meadow. The Ivy Bee colony is also appreciating the short-cropped grass. No sign of the Pyramidal Orchids yet.
Sawston, Cambs.
@ukorchids.bsky.social

Cambridge City and South Cambs Councils are running a consultation on a new Climate & Nature strategy

engage.cambridge.gov.uk/en-GB/projec...

First couple of Redwings this autumn over Babraham this morning.
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

They do look pretty cool though.

Nice find, John. Poplar HM?

Snap! Will be looking for the emergence of wintergreen orchids at the same time.

That's a great garden record, Clive.

Common Blue on the left, Brown Argus on the right @magogdown.bsky.social today. See if you can 'spot' the difference.
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

This Clouded Yellow was the last butterfly recorded on today's transect @magogdown.bsky.social.
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Yes please.

Emerald Damselfly at Wandlebury, Cambridge today. Thanks @epollard.bsky.social for the ID.
@cambridgeppf.bsky.social
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Contender for the smallest Brown Argus of the year at Wandlebury, Cambs, today. I originally thought it was a Small Blue.
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social
@cambridgeppf.bsky.social

Thanks, Edward. A grand total of 0 Small Blues was recorded on yesterday's transect and so no evidence to support a third brood.

Brown Argus and Small Copper @magogdown.bsky.social today. Small Coppers are having a better year on the Down, compared to the last few years, with eight counted on today's transect.
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

UKBMS data is crucial for research. A new paper uses 45 yrs of UKBMS data to examine how extreme climate events affect butterfly populations in England. Heatwaves during hibernation or early life stages and heavy rain during later stages have -ve effects.
Its worth a read - buff.ly/nOU2Zod

The second brood peaked about a month ago on the site and have only seen worn individuals over the last couple of weeks. Hence, I was surprised to see fresh specimens today.

A good show of Adonis Blues at Therfield Heath today.
@bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

One of several Autumn Lady's Tresses seen today in Bedfordshire.

A very fresh (male, I think) Small Blue @magogdown.bsky.social this afternoon. Interestingly, it was one of three seen today and all were pretty fresh. Late second brood or from a possible third?
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

The meadows at Wandlebury, Cambridge, are currently looking fantastic and look like they are being managed well. Small Coppers are doing really well there. A family of Spotted Flycatchers also about, plus a Clouded Yellow.
@cambsbirdclub.bsky.social
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Shooting estates failing to declare millions of Pheasants – could spell disaster in Avian Influenza epidemic Shooting estates in England are failing to declare millions of Pheasants that are being bred, reared and released in to the countryside. That’s the finding of new research published yesterday…

55 million non-native pheasants/partridge released each year into our countryside and causing all types of harm just so a few can shoot. raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/01/s... raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/01/s...

Honey Buzzard?

Hummingbird Hawk-moth caterpillar on Hedge Bedstraw in the driveway this morning.
Sawston, Cambs.

A short walk at Wandlebury, Cambridge, this afternoon. One battered Clouded Yellow present, missing its antennae, plus several Small Coppers on territory. The Small Copper picture courtesy of my daughter.
@bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

I certainly was. Embarrassingly so, according to my daughter.

Managed a shot of a tatty individual the second time round.

At pleasurewood near Lowestoft this afternoon. I wonder if I was the only person to spot Purple Hairstreak butterflies in the Oak at the top of this ride?
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social

Broads national park warns of impact of flea treatments for pets Chemicals treatments for pets can harm aquatic life if it gets in the waterway network, experts warn.

We.need to ban dogs from freshwater in the UK until we work out a resolution for this.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The biggest Wasp Spider I have seen. This is on our front 'lawn' today.
Sawston, Cambs.

I was under the impression that they do migrate south in autumn.