Help us uncover the hidden lives of Europe’s ground-nesting bees When most people think about pollinators, they picture bees visiting flowers. But for many species, a large part of life happens elsewhere: in the soil. Many pollinators do not just feed above grou…

Join a new citizen science project and help us to uncover the hidden lives of Europe’s ground-nesting #bees - please share with your networks:

jeffollerton.co.uk/2026/04/02/h...

A brown caterpillar on Hawthorn

A brown caterpillar on Hawthorn

Possibly Green-brindled Crescent moth larva? On Hawthorn.

At @wildlifebcn.org's Strawberry Hill Nature Reserve (Beds) last week.

Although it was the only one I saw, much of the Hawthorn along the footpath was very well nibbled.

#Moths #Insects @brianecambs.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social

Cuc-koo! Cuc-koo!

Ooh this looks like a lovely pattern, your own?

*I'm going to one on water bugs tomorrow, and Brian's workshop on ants later this year.

And I'd add, if you're interested in learning more - check out online and in-person training courses! @wildlifebcn.org ones* of course, but also EntoLearn ( @earthwormuk.bsky.social ), @fieldstudiesc.bsky.social, @plantlifeuk.bsky.social and more!

Good to know!

Thank you!

A solitary bee visiting the blue flower of green alkanet

A solitary bee visiting the blue flower of green alkanet

A solitary bee visiting the blue flower of green alkanet

Osmia bicornis or O. cornuta?

All photos of the same individual bee.

#SolitaryBees #Bees #NorthantsWildlife

Events | Butterfly Conservation Butterfly Conservation is a British charity devoted to saving butterflies, moths and their habitats throughout the UK.

2026 Guided walks. Information has now been published on the @savebutterflies.bsky.social website.
Guided walks are free, and open to all
Details on where, when, and how to register
@bc-suffolk.bsky.social @bcbedsnorthants.bsky.social
butterfly-conservation.org/events?field...

15th April 2026 Indoor Meeting - Cambridge Local Group The Acquisition of Strawberry Hill – Megan Shersby (Wildlife Trusts BCN) Strawberry Hill is an extraordinary place. Some 35 years ago, the previous owner decided to let nature take over this 150-hecta...

In #Cambridge tonight?

Come along to the RPSB Cambridge Local Group event and learn about @wildlifebcn.org's Strawberry Hill Nature Reserve!

Free for the group's members, and £3 on the door for guests.

Giveaway ends tonight!

Screenshot from Opticron Instagram, showing a pair of binoculars and a book on a wooden fence.

ICYMI, there is a giveaway on Opticron's Instagram to win a pair of binoculars worth >£200 and a copy of the low-carbon wildlife watching guide that I'm the lead author!

Entry via Instagram only, open to UK residents, closes 23.59 on Monday 6th April 2026:

www.instagram.com/p/DWjBT7wGoe...

Great crested grebe seen drowning and eating chiffchaffs in Spain | Discover Wildlife Birdwatcher and photographer Juan Montiel captured the unusual grebe behaviour on camera.

A birdwatcher and photographer managed to capture the unusual behaviour of two great crested grebes hunting common chiffchaffs.

The grebes would stealthily approach the chiffchaffs (hunting for inverts over the water's surface), catch one, drown it, then swallow it – albeit with difficulty.

I am interested to see if this study is recreated with any UK species - and whether it is applicable for all bumblebee species, or just some.

"Exceptional discovery." Animals thought extinct for 6,000 years found alive in Indonesian rainforest | Discover Wildlife Two marsupial species previously only known from the fossil record have been rediscovered in New Guinea.

Two Lazarus marsupial species 'rediscovered' in New Guinea.

Known to scientists only from fossil records, and thought to be extinct for thousands of years.

However, the ring-tailed glider was known to local people before its description / 'rediscovery'.

Bumblebee queens can survive underwater for an entire week. How they do it is incredible | Discover Wildlife The bumblebees avoid drowning by combining underwater gas exchange with anaerobic metabolism, according to a new study.

An accident during a PhD revealed an interesting line of further research - hibernating bumblebee queens can survive being underwater for at least a week!

“They combine underwater gas exchange with anaerobic metabolism. That flexibility is what allows them to survive these extreme conditions.”

Wood anemones in the breeze at @nationaltrust.org.uk 's Bateman's

Exactly! And to be fair, I have tried both ways numerous times, and cream first is consistently superior.

Plain scone cut in half, with clotted cream applied first and then strawberry jam. And a cup of tea.

I'd just spent a couple of hours at NT's Bateman's with family for my birthday - and having long been unfussed by the jam or cream first debate, I have now come to the conclusion that it is cream first.

A small brown booklet from The National Trust. "Pocket Guide to Britain: A selection of Trust properties for you to visit."

A view inside the booklet featuring some information about National Trust outdoor properties, a photo of a river, and a line drawing of a Little Ringed Plover.

A view inside the booklet featuring some information about National Trust 'Open Countryside' properties, and a photo of a river meeting the sea.

A view inside the booklet featuring a page of text About the National Trust.

A little find whilst packing up mum's old book collection for her house move - I'd love to find out what year it was from!

I imagine the price of the @nationaltrust.org.uk membership will help narrow down the date - just £2!

Oh this is a lovely thought! The timing of it fluttering against the window was purposely lined up with Mary's feelings.

I'm not sure if the director etc know about box moths enough to have that extra representation, but I'll take it!

Goodness!

I will be adding to the Small Prophets watch numbers soon as I've heard it's brilliant

A screenshot from The Other Bennet Sister. Featuring a Box Tree Moth against a window. Subtitles currently read "But I was trapped."

Excellent views of a Box Tree Moth in #TheOtherBennetSister. Except this species isn't native to the UK and was first seen here in 2007...

#Moths #Insects #PrideAndPrejudice

It's an interesting "review" ...

The three reviews on Amazon so far are all 5*s 😊

Heard my first one by Skew Bridge Lake at Nene Wetlands yesterday!

Huntingdon Local Group Partnership Event: A Folk and Blues in the Pews Concert | Wildlife Trust for Beds Cambs & Northants Join Artisan Music (supported by the Hunts Local Group) for a special night of live acoustic music. Funds raised will be donated to the Wildlife Trust BCN and St Mary Magdalene Church, Brampton.

Looking forward to this music event tonight in Brampton, organised by the Hunts Local Group, raising money for @wildlifebcn.org and the church.

The first one, in autumn, was a lovely event with gorgeous music.

Tickets still available:

CHIFFCHAFF!!!

#NorthantsBirds #NorthantsWildlife

Wrinkled pink edges (the galls) on Red Valerian plant.

A fluffy brown caterpillar and a 7 spot ladybird on a leaf.

Rosettes of bee orchids amongst short grass, and 7- spot ladybird.

What A Day!

I managed to talk about parasites (including galls and cuckoo bumblebees) to different groups of people, and saw some galls too! Plus, spotted a Ruby Tiger moth caterpillar and some Bee Orchid rosettes.

#Galls #Moths #Orchids #NorthantsWildlife