Sometimes you don't need to go any further than the field behind your house - full of dandelions right now. Male Tawny Mining Bee and what I think is a Tarnished Plant Bug, Lygus rugulipennis. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social #ukbees #ukbugs #ukwildlife #uknature
Based on Steven Falk's Flickr page on them, and the BWARS page, I'm fairly sure this is a male Ashy Mining Bee, Andrena cineraria, but happy to be corrected. If it is, I'll put it on BWARS and iRecord. @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social #solitarybees #ukwildlife #uknature #ukbees
Scorpionfly contemplating the void, #yeovilcountrypark Ninesprings this morning @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social #ukinsects #ukwildlife #uknature #ukflies
I think the green colour is probably a trick of the light
Certainly looks like one.
The sun glinting off a Green Longhorn Moth, and my first albeit distant Whitethroat of the year, Riverside Walk Lyde Road end this morning. @somersetwt.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @mothiduk.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukmoths #ukwildlife #uknature
Orange Tip, obviously, seem to have a mental block about their name 🙄
Yetminster Mill Walk this morning, nice Comma, and a rarity - a Holly Blue not only with its wings open, but also on Holly! @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #ukbutterflies #ukwildlife #uknature
More from Ham Hill yesterday, Green-Veined White, Holly Blue, Bloody-Nosed Beetle and Violet Oil Beetle @savebutterflies.bsky.social #ukbeetles #ukwildlife #uknature #ukbutterflies
Actually this was yesterday, but obviously Bluesky wasn't available!
Female Orange Spot
Male Orange Spot
St Mark's flies
White-Footed Hoverfly
A goodly haul at Ham Hill today - my first Orange Spot butterfly photos of the season, a White-Footed Hoverfly and two St Mark's flies making more St Mark's flies. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #ukbutterflies #ukhoverflies
Speckled Wood and Jay, #yeovilcountrypark Ninesprings this morning - surprisingly, my first photos of either there. @somersetwt.bsky.social @somersetbirds.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #ukwildlife #uknature #ukbirds #ukbutterflies
One of two Red Kites over Yetminster Mill Walk earlier. The second disappeared fairly soon. Don't know if they were a pair, or if the other one was the cause of the damaged flight feather. A beauty, and very low - these were barely cropped. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Blackcap, #yeovilcountrypark Riverside Walk this morning. @somersetbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social #ukwildlife #ukbirds #uknature
Because I didn't take the dogs
Tree Creeper keeping to the shadows
A very yellow Grey Wagtail
Batman Hoverfly, Myathropa florea
Dark-Edged Bee-fly
Another dog-free wander along the #yeovilcountrypark Riverside Walk. More in captions. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social @bumblebeetrust.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social #uknature #ukwildlife #ukbirds #ukbees #ukhoverflies #beeflywatch
My first Speckled Wood of the season, Lyde Road end of the #yeovilcountrypark Riverside Walk. Holly Blue also flittering around, and a good few Blackcaps singing. @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social #uknature #ukwildlife #ukbutterflies
"It's something you rarely see." Trump was talking about the US airmen rescue of course - I can guarantee a US President talking about a Middle East war next to the Easter Bunny is something we've never seen, and hopefully will never see again. #factstrangerthanfiction #youcouldntmakeitup
Happy to get my Kenko extension tubes back. Tapered Drone Fly, Eristalis pertinax, in the garden. Nikon D7200, Nikon AFP 70-300mm DX and 12mm tube. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #closeenoughphotography #ukhoverflies #ukwildlife #uknature #notquitemacro
These are very wise words indeed from Fstopper's Adam Matthews, really made me stop and think. Shame he's not on Bluesky yet.
fstoppers.com/opinion/why-...
Steven Falk says "females can sometimes be seen investigating the bases of such trees to oviposit or resting on tree trunks", which is exactly what it was doing. Thanks again.
Ah, yes, that looks right, thanks Tristan
We'll see what @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social and/or @britishbugs.bsky.social have to say.
Yes, I wondered if it was Volucella bombylans, but as you say, it's a bit early, and Steven Falk says the white tailed version is very rare. It was also flying like a Beefly, which to me suggests Drone Fly. They are very common it seems, and are on the wing from March, so that fits too.
Male Great Spotted Woodpecker practising on a fence post, possibly one of last year's young, and a Wren just before it spotted my camera and flew off. #yeovilcountrypark Riverside Walk this morning @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #ukbirds #ukwidlife #uknature
Red Campion
Cherry Blossom
Cuckoo Flower/Milkmaids
Pendulous Sedge
You know it's Spring when the Red Campion comes out. A rare dog-free amble along the #yeovilcountrypark Riverside Walk this morning. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #ukwildflowers #uknature
Am I right in thinking this is a Furry Drone Fly, Eristalis intricaria? Seen this morning along the Yeovil Riverside Walk. @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social #droneflies #uknature #ukinsects #ukwildlife
Acer
Common Spotted Eupeodes on Balkan Anenome
White Snakes-Head Fritillaries
Dark-Edged Beefly
Kingston Lacy earlier, where the sun defied the Met Office and came out anyway. My first Dark-Edged Beefly of the season, and a tiny Common Spotted Eupeodes on the Balkan Anenomes. @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @uk-soldierflies.bsky.social @britishbugs.bsky.social #uknature #ukwildflowers #ukwildlife
Loads of 7 Spot Ladybirds in the back field at the moment, and more on their way by the looks of it! @britishbugs.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #ukladybirds #uknature #ukwildlife
The Wood Anenomes are out at Ninesprings #yeovilcountrypark #wildflowers #ukwildflowers #uknature