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Posts by Ed Phillips

Macro photograph of an Ashy Mining Bee in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of an Ashy Mining Bee in a Staffordshire garden.

First Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) of the year, in our #Staffs garden yesterday. One of my favourites; this female warming-up on my finger. #bees #SolitaryBees #garden #pollinators

1 week ago 88 13 1 1
Macro photograph of a Humming-bird Hawkmoth visiting a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a Humming-bird Hawkmoth visiting a Staffordshire garden.

A Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) visiting our Staffordshire garden this morning. Even managed to get a reasonably-uncluttered (and in-focus) shot! Don't see many of these in our garden ...

1 week ago 35 4 1 0
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Just putting the finishing touches together, I hope some of you can make it. Open 11.00 - 16.00 hrs daily; free admission, free parking.

4 weeks ago 9 0 0 0

Totally agree Chris, particularly as I have Stelis phaeoptera utilising mine every year!

1 month ago 1 0 1 0

Indeed Chris. I've seen some Ancistrocerus wasps emerging from the bee-hotels this week, their hosts presumably.

1 month ago 0 0 1 0
Macro photograph of a colourful Rub-tailed Wasp in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a colourful Rub-tailed Wasp in a Staffordshire garden.

Always a treat to see; a lovely Ruby-tailed Wasp in our #Staffs garden yesterday. #wasp #CuckooWasp #SolitaryWasp

1 month ago 211 38 6 0
Macro photograph of a Bee-fly in our Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a Bee-fly in our Staffordshire garden.

First Bee-fly of the year in our #Staffs garden today; Bombylius major. #bees #SolitaryBees #pollination #biodiversity

1 month ago 15 2 1 0

Well-done to you both!

1 month ago 1 0 1 0
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I had one of those (or one very similar) and ended-up as a microbiologist!

1 month ago 1 0 0 0
Photograph on a bone found on the beach in Anglesey. Might be from a seabird of some sort.

Photograph on a bone found on the beach in Anglesey. Might be from a seabird of some sort.

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Found on the beach in Anglesey at the weekend. A seabird sternum perhaps?

1 month ago 1 0 0 0
Macro photograph of an Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) queen on a garden flower.

Macro photograph of an Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) queen on a garden flower.

A lovely fresh-looking queen Bombus pratorum (Early Bumblebee) in our #Staffs garden this morning. I think that what it is anyway! #bees #SocialBees

1 month ago 21 3 0 0

I had a Bombus pratorum queen in our #Staffs garden today; first I've seen this year.

1 month ago 1 0 0 0
Macro photograph of a Western Honey Bee in our Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a Western Honey Bee in our Staffordshire garden.

First Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) that I've photographed this year. Lots active in our #Staffs garden today. #bees #SocialBees

1 month ago 7 0 0 0
Macro photograph of a Barkfly in garden leaf-litter.

Macro photograph of a Barkfly in garden leaf-litter.

Psocid (Barkfly) in garden leaf-litter this morning. #Staffs #garden #Psocid #Barkfly

2 months ago 9 0 0 0
Macro photograph of an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

Macro photograph of an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

An "elongate" springtail in garden leaf-litter this morning, just a few millimetres long. #staffs #collembola #mesofauna

2 months ago 33 6 1 0

We bought a pair of Felco secateurs several year ago Lucy. They are expensive but (in my mind), an excellent investment. You can get a special sharpening stone too. They do a range of weights and sizes, so check if you have smaller hands. Whatever you buy, good luck and safe pruning!

2 months ago 0 0 1 0
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Announcing an exhibition of my still-life photography at the Rose Paterson Art Gallery at Weston Park. Will run from 27 March to 29 April. Parking and admission free. The Art Gallery is open daily from 11.00 to 16.00 hrs. Weston Park situated on the A5 near Shifnal, Shropshire.

2 months ago 5 3 0 0
Macro photograph of a globular springtail and an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

Macro photograph of a globular springtail and an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

I was photographing a globular springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi) in the garden, when a juvenile "elongate" springtail came scurrying into view. Remarkably, they're both reasonably in focus with this single shot. Two for the price of one! #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photograph

5 months ago 33 6 1 0
Composite photograph of globular springtails found in a Staffordshire garden.

Composite photograph of globular springtails found in a Staffordshire garden.

A selection of globular springtails found under fallen leaves on our garden lawn this morning. A Dicyrtomina species at the bottom and Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) and S. elegans at the top. #collembola #mesofauna #Staffs #macro #photography

5 months ago 28 5 0 0
Macro photograph of the globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi.

Macro photograph of the globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi.

The globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi in our #Staffs garden this morning. Between 1-2 mm long. #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photography

5 months ago 38 5 0 0
A Fly Agaric mushroom photograph, with added Photoshop adjustments.

A Fly Agaric mushroom photograph, with added Photoshop adjustments.

We're fortunate in having a few Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in our #Staffs garden. Being a photographer, I couldn't resist a bit of additional Photoshopery on this shot! #macro #photography #shallowDoF

6 months ago 25 3 1 0
Close-up image of fungi growing on a Staffordshire garden lawn, possibly one of the Laccaria species.

Close-up image of fungi growing on a Staffordshire garden lawn, possibly one of the Laccaria species.

More fungi from our front lawn today. I know very little about mushroom identification, but wondered whether this could be one of the Laccaria species (Deceivers)? #Staffs #fungi #macro #photography

6 months ago 16 0 0 0
Macro photograph of Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in a Staffordshire garden.

We have a nice selection of fungi on our front lawn, including Fly Agaric. #Staffs #macro #photography #fungi #mushrooms

6 months ago 26 2 1 0

I had to look-up "macrolabic", but I'd guessed from the photograph what it meant! Always more things to learn ...

6 months ago 2 0 1 0
Macro photograph of a barkfly in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a barkfly in a Staffordshire garden.

My morning leaf-litter hunt didn't result in any springtail photographs today, but I did snap this little psocid (barkfly) that was under a Laurel leaf. #psocoptera #Staffs #garden #macro #photography

6 months ago 20 0 0 0
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Macro photograph of a globular springtail in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a globular springtail in a Staffordshire garden.

The globular springtail Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) in the garden this morning. Very small (< 1 mm). #Staffs #collembola #springtail #LeafLitter #mesofauna #macro #photography

6 months ago 21 1 0 0

Yes; I struggle with wasps, even the social species! I'm a photographer though, not an entomologist, but I do like wasps and photograph them whenever they oblige (I don't generally take specimens).

7 months ago 0 0 0 0

Thank you Karl; I'll have a read-up!

7 months ago 0 0 1 0
Macro photograph of a tiny wasp found under a wet leaf in a Staffordshire garden.

Macro photograph of a tiny wasp found under a wet leaf in a Staffordshire garden.

I found a tiny little wasp (~2-3 mm) under a wet leaf on the lawn this morning (was looking for springtails actually). #WaspLove #Staffs #macro #photography

7 months ago 43 6 2 0
A social wasp worker collecting nesting material from a wooden post.

A social wasp worker collecting nesting material from a wooden post.

Still lots of social wasp workers collecting nesting material in our #Staffs garden. #WaspLove #macro #photography

7 months ago 14 1 0 0