Citizen science
28 Jun 2025

Citizen science

by | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, Worcestershire | 0

Well, this is exciting. To me, at any rate: I get quite fizzy whenever I’m able to add a new species to my life list, and this is one I never expected to encounter in the Shire. It’s a Four-banded … Continued

Tasty
26 Jun 2025

Tasty

by | posted in: Hoverflies, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

I’ve arrived home to a mountainous backlog of administrative tasks that mostly needed dealing with several weeks ago, and this morning I vowed to spend all day at my desk, getting stuck in. Fortunately, R has known me for four and … Continued

Swanky forelegs
21 Jun 2025

Swanky forelegs

by | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

“You know I’ve been going on about that bee with the swanky forelegs?” I said to R. “Well, I finally got some shots of him, and I’m trying to decide which one to use. Look at this.” “Oh yes,” said … Continued

Stocky
17 Jun 2025

Stocky

by | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Of the seven species of leafcutter bee found in the UK, Willughby’s Leafcutter (Megachile willughbiella) is the most widespread, and probably the easiest to identify. Males are about 12mm long, with pale faces and the short, square abdomen that’s common … Continued

Patchwork
8 Jun 2025

Patchwork

by | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, Worcestershire | 0

I spotted this fresh bee on the bramble growing at the edge of the Orchard Ponds in the Cleeve Prior Community Orchard, where I’d gone on a fruitless search for dragonflies, and recognised it as a male leafcutter. I couldn’t … Continued

Garden Bumblebee
5 Jun 2025

Garden Bumblebee

by | posted in: Bees, Invertebrates, My garden, Worcestershire | 0

Bombus hortorum is one of the most common bumblebees in the UK. It’s also one of the biggest, with queens coming in at close to 2cm in length, and males and workers at around 1.5cm. It’s commonly called the Garden … Continued

Shooting through
4 Jun 2025

Shooting through

by | posted in: Butterflies, Damselflies, Invertebrates, Odonata, Worcestershire | 0

Marbled Whites have been out at Cleeve Prior Community Orchard for a few days now, but today was the first time I managed to get one on camera. As with many fresh male insects they’re engaged on a near-frantic hunt … Continued