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I seem to have acquired a new friend, following me round the garden, and waiting for bits of cheese…

Finally seen Baccha elongata in the garden this year! Hoverflies in #Shrewsbury

Rainbow over Castlefields skies in #Shrewsbury

Some pavement plants in #Shrewsbury on the way home from the folk festival. A lovely Corn Marigold, and a dodgy little petunia-jobby…

The first garden records are coming in thick and fast - Elbow-veined Grass-veneer is lovely!

Oh you little green star! Abseiling down off the roses and onto my lap (then quickly potted by The Monkey Butler). First garden record for Nigma walckenaeri 💚 🕷️

Oh you beauty! First garden record of a Red Underwing. And I didn’t get to see it but hooray for the Monkey Butler snapping a photo

How much excitement can biological recorders cope with? Save the date! It’s @nfbr.bsky.social 40th anniversary conference next year - woohoo! Get it in your diaries… @nbntrust.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @elaineeepoos.bsky.social @teamneyedc.bsky.social

A Green-veined White enjoying TMS in the garden… not sure I’m enjoying it… 🤦‍♀️

Ah - Episyrphus balteatus, Marmalade Hoverfly on Aster divaricatus. Glad to know another species of Hoverfly likes TMS in the garden #shrewsbury #shropshire

Sun rise in #Shrewsbury

Eupeodes luniger hanging around in the garden listening to TMS with me this evening…

Earlier this year I rescued Mr Stick from a moribund Box tree, and attempted to raise him. @kitenet.bsky.social Martin suggested a Willow Beauty and today you were proven correct! Hooray! First garden record

Ooh! Volucella inanis on Dipsacus pilosus Small Teasel, in the garden, listening to TMS… life doesn’t get much better…

First garden record for a 16-spot Ladybird Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata. It’s so tiny! And yes, it’s not very alive…

A butterfly week - which is nice in the garden! Speckled Wood and Comma - amazingly both first garden records for this year

Do you know a young person with an interest in insects? 🦋 The Douglas Boyes Fund aims to provide people aged 14-18 with access to entomology equipment, fostering their passion for insects and inspiring them to engage and share their interest with other young individuals 🔽

Solstice stuff, Litha love

Hey clever moth folk @pilning.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @moth-lady.bsky.social @gardenmothscheme.bsky.social can anyone ID this utterly featureless looper, on Buxus? Please?

Well. UK recorders, @nbntrust.bsky.social @nfbr.bsky.social the comments attached to iNat’s latest post are revealing…

Oh look at this beauty! So sorry I disturbed you when dismantling the front door surround… I’m hoping Noble False Widow, Steatoda nobilis…

Last October I rescued a Buff Ermine caterpillar from the green bin and fed it privet (which seemed to go down well). Middle granddaughter named him Montgomery Buff-Ermine, and today Monty emerged in all of her glory

First Small Tortoiseshell this year for the garden list #Shrewsbury #Shropshire

A lovely day of @nfbr.bsky.social conference hosted by @biologicalrecording.co.uk and the awesome @earthwormuk.bsky.social . Passed the NFBR baton to the awesome Simon Pickles @teamneyedc.bsky.social so now (another) glass of fizz. Celebratory ginkgos!

Have you booked yet for the NFBR Conference tomorrow 16th May? In partnership with the awesome Biological Recording Company, join us for a morning of exploring Local to National recording, with our AGM following on. See you there! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/biological...

Uh oh… hello Lily Beetle. Not sure there’s anything remotely interesting in my garden for you, so you can take your chance on the bird table, along with the Box Moth caterpillars…

🦎 Are you a master's or PhD student ? 🎓 The 2025 Graduate Researchers Award will provide 💰 2x€5,000 prizes highlighting research and discovery in biodiversity informatics by graduate students whose studies rely on GBIF-mediated data. 🧬 Learn more 🔗 gbif.link/gra-2025

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/biological... Book now for the @nfbr.bsky.social annual online conference and AGM @earthwormuk.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @teamneyedc.bsky.social

A cold Eristalis pertinax sitting on the outside sink, wondering where the warm weather has gone… #hoverflies #Shrewsbury

Celandine sunshine #Shropshire

Ye gods, this is terrifying…

Top professional photography tips for the eclipse - tea tray, mad hair, and there we go… #shrewsbury

All of this year’s Christmas presents solved as it’s due out in November… @pelagic.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social pelagicpublishing.com/products/the...

What - it’s #flyFriday you say? Here are two delightful Merodon getting some action on the chopping board in my kitchen… 🙄

Please sign if you haven’t already!

We're hiring! Could you help create a resilient future for the Botanical Society, working across our teams to support staff and volunteers? Apply to become our first ever Administration Officer: bsbi.org/vacancies/ad... Not applying yourself? Then please help us spread the word! Deadline: 2nd March

🌾🌱🌍🌿🍄🌺 Botanical University Challenge #BUC2025 Total of 29 teams this year. More about them as we get nearer the start 14:00 GMT Wednesday 12 February. Watch live on our YouTube channel or see the recording later.

Imbolc blessings and stuff from sunny #Shrewsbury #Brigid

Hello #moth folk - what’s this chap hiding in my tulips? Is there enough to identify? UK #Shrewsbury

⚠️ BREAKING: What Is Causing Extreme Weather? 👇🏻 Please watch this latest #BrokenNews report, then share. youtu.be/_X2p9dMsNFY?...

Today I’m mentally hanging on to my roof slates so here’s a Humming-bird Hawk-moth on Red Valerian from sunnier calmer days #Shrewsbury

Wet, windy, and I have writing to do. Bum. So here’s a Golden-ringed Dragonfly from sunnier days. Wildmoor Pool, #Shropshire

@mistletoeman.bsky.social Jonathan Briggs entertains us with life that lives on Sponges. Sponge Flies… who knew? #Shropshire Entoday @suedancey.bsky.social

@bc-westmids.bsky.social at #Shropshire Entoday, raising funds by selling gorgeous pin badges of Scarlet Tiger, Peach Blossom and Kentish Glory. Very good on a hat…

@mistletoeman.bsky.social talking at #Shropshire Entoday on Sponges and their invertebrate fauna @suedancey.bsky.social

Fabulous start to #Shropshire Entoday at PM Field Centre. Drs Lucy Muir and Joe Botting talking on fossil invertebrates 🤩

I do like marbles! Three contemporary hand-made Teign Valley beauties 😻

…and that’s the tax stuff done!

Oh dear - no #pavementplants in #Shrewsbury so it will have to be another sunrise taken on my crappy iPhone whilst hanging out of the attic window…