Ian Beavis

Two early females of the cuckoo bumblebee Bombus vestalis in Calverley Grounds today. As their host Buff-tailed Bumblebee is now winter-active, they don't have to wait for the establishment of nests in the spring.

Freshly emerged from hibernation, queens of Early Bumblebee (left) & Red-tailed Bumblebee in Calverley Grounds today. Tree Bumblebee also seen.

The early-flying mining bee Andrena clarkella in Calverley Grounds today

We are at the 'try to mate with random flies' stage of the Hairy-footed flower bee life cycle here in SWLondon. #SolitaryBees @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social @cathhodsman.bsky.social @johnwalterswildife.bsky.social

Greek Squill naturalised for many years on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour

The misnamed Summer Snowflake in its regular spot on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour

Common Storksbill starting to flower on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour

A good turnout for today's gathering on Tunbridge Wells Common in support of the bid to bring our two Commons into community ownership

Stunning moss mimicry on this harvestman

Rolph's Door Snail Macrogaster rolphii. A brown snail with a tall, spire-shaped ribbed shell, and an irregularly-shaped, white-lipped mouth, lying between my fingers.

Ten-spot Ladybird Adalia decempunctata. An oval, dark red beetle with pale spots on its wing cases.

White flower of Wood Anemone memorial, amongst brown leaves.

The empty shell of a beech fruit, or mast, with slender fungal growths arising from the top. These growths are Beechmast Candlesnuff fungus Xylaria carpophila.

A fine mix of species on our little local monthly nature walk. Amongst soecies seen wre Rolph's Door Snail, Ten-spot Ladybird, Wood Anemone & Beechmast Candlesnuff fungus, all pictured. Also spotted Raven and Red Kite, making for a pleasant morning. #KentNature

Ten Adders seen today including these two very different Melanistic.

Gathering on Tunbridge Wells Common tomorrow in support of the bid to bring Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons into community ownership

Look in the 'valley mire' boardwalk area

You can see Bog Beacon at RSPB Broadwater Warren just south of Tunbridge Wells. In woodland shade they have an almost luminous quality.

Male Snow Flea on a dead leaf among moss on a tree stump. A tiny insect related to scorpionflies rather than fleas, with a downward-pointing beak like scorpionflies, but with short spine-like modified wings.

Another male Snow Flea in side view.

Dorsal view of a male Snow Flea.

Chuffed to bits to see Snow Fleas (Boreus hyemalis) today at Felbrigg. Huge thanks to @vannabartlett.bsky.social for finding them previously and providing directions and to @caryocatactes.bsky.social for spotting them first today - I hadn’t appreciated how tiny they would be! #UKInverts #SnowFlea

The male Snow Fleas clambering over hill and dale this morning at Felbrigg @norfolknats.bsky.social

Platyrhinus resinosus - Cramp-ball Fungus Weevils!!! They’re so beautiful, with eyes like tiny galaxies. Best weevils ever. Examine every Daldinia concentrica you come across & eventually you’ll find one. Took me years. #FungiFriends #Platyrhinusresinosus

The Wednesday work party at Grafton Wood, Worcs today. Plenty of sun and 15c. At least a dozen Brimstone, 3 Peacock and a single Comma. We're off !!!
@westmbms-99.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

The tiny Ramshorn Bagworm moth Luffia lapidella caterpillar in its case on a lichen covered gravestone, Alphington Church Exeter, Devon today.

A much-needed day out yesterday, with Will & Sarah. With thanks to @vannabartlett.bsky.social for info, we tracked down seven Snow Fleas at Felbrigg (one in a new area) and, while waiting around Bintree Mill, amused ourselves with scores of Bristly Millipedes on the building walls. Stunning, both.

Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) #LytchettHeath 24/02/26

It's ironic they think this is 'Christian'. Whereas for most of Christian history the Church encouraged people to focus on their spiritual journey & not on worldly success. This involved large numbers of men & women giving up the prospect of marriage and living in monastic communities or as hermits

A couple of Peacock butterflies enjoying the sun at #LytchettHeath 24/02/26

It's publication day!

First one looks more like Lasioglossum calceatum female which is often an early one. I agree about A bicolor male. Bumblebee has a very orangey looking tail, so maybe Early Bumblebee (B pratorum) - queens a bit smaller than Buff-tailed.

Female Hairy-footed Flower Bee

1st HFFB! We have seen Hairy-footed Flower bees (Anthophora plumipes) in late February before but always males, so surprised to find a female buzzing around the Pulmonarias yesterday before taking a break on a rustic leaf 🐝🙂. @brigitstrawbridge.bsky.social

A glorious early spring day @kentwildlife.bsky.social Cromers Wood. 2 species of butterflies seen, 2 each of Comma (yt) & Peacock. More constant birdsong today, no stand out birds though. Some Ladybirds already busy. #kentnature #kentbirding

Anthophora plumipes male: a fluffy brown bee with a yellow face drinking nectar from the pale purple flowers of a Red Dead Nettle plant.

Andrena bicolor male: a small dark bee facing right on a shiny green Cherry Laurel leaf.

Bombus pratorum queen: a relatively small bumblebee with a black thorax with a yellow collar, a yellow and black abdomen and an orangey-red tail. She is clinging on to a chickweed plant and drinking nectar from the small white flowers.

Bombus hypnorum queen: a big fluffy bumblebee with brown thorax, black abdomen and white tail sitting on a dead oak leaf. The bee has yellow pollen on its head and thorax from where it was visiting Daffodils.

The sun really brought the bees out in Norwich today. I clocked up 7 species. Anthophora plumipes, Andrena bicolor, Bombus pratorum and Bombus hypnorum pictured. The other 3 were all bumblebees - B. terrestris, B. pascuorum and B. lapidarius. #bees #pollinators

I found my first wild bees in Corfe Mullen Meadows Dorset.Spring is here !