Patchwork
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
Shooting through
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
Buttercup Blacklet
Today was the first of the month’s two Bank Holidays. To me these are and always will be May Day and Whitsuntide, but officially they’re called the Early May and Spring Bank Holidays. This shows a depressing lack of imagination, … Continued
Eye of the storm
There’s a luxurious patch of ivy growing along the top of the tall old farm wall that borders our yard, which flowers later than any other ivy in the area. Given that it’s south-facing, I have absolutely no idea why … Continued
Butterfly day
This morning Butterfly Conservation emailed me to say that this year’s Big Butterfly Count has resulted in the lowest numbers ever recorded – which won’t come as a surprise to many people, because everyone on my socials seems to have … Continued
