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

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

Windswept
16 Apr 2025

Windswept

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

The weather went completely insane today, blowing a gale the like of which we haven’t seen since the old privy roof took off and tried to take out a power line, back in December. In fact, en route to collecting … Continued