On the last leg of our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z – laying out the fabulous Tachinid Parasitic Flies. Here's 4 to whet your appetite: top Gonia picea & Phasia pusilla, bottom Linnaemya vulpina & Tachina lurida @tverc1.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Just finished laying out the House Flies pages for #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z - our smallest, the rare Musca osiris, is known from a few localities on the south coast of England & Wales @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

A rare fly on a rare plant at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor - Fen Mantis Fly (Ochthera manicata) on Fen Pondweed (Potamogeton coloratus) one of 1200 species featured in #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z to be published this Autumn @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

If you visit the Sussex coast over the Bank Holiday look out for Sea Aster - you might spot the pretty Sea Aster Bee (Colletes halophilus) foraging on its flowers. Find out more in The Bees of Sussex order here bit.ly/3PlKoX2 @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

One of the tiniest Tachinids, Phasia pusilla Little Phasia, seen on Angelica, Hinksey Fields in Oxford. One of over 1200 species that feature in our new Photographic Guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland to be published this Autumn @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

The Wildlife of the Avalon Marshes by Alison Uren is now on pre-pub offer @£19.95 from naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop (ends 31 Oct) – The book takes you on a month-by-month journey showcasing the stunning wildlife to be found there @rspb.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social @avalonmarshes.bsky.social

We're now laying out the Tachinids for #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z to be published this Autumn TOP Cistogaster globosa & Gymnocheta viridis; BOTTOM Phasia hemiptera & Tachina grossa @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

Although we're nearing completion of our guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland I couldn't resist sharing this beauty seen in southern France, the hypnotic Band-eyed Dronefly Eristalinus taeniops, although it has been recorded in Britain it's not native @stevenfalk17.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Our latest book The Wildlife of the Avalon Marshes by Alison Uren is now on pre-pub offer @£19.95 from naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop The cover features Bearded Reedling, Bittern & Great White Egret – three of the area's iconic species @rspb.bsky.social @somersetwt.bsky.social

🪲 Just in: "The Beetles of Oxfordshire" by Jonty Denton & John Campbell! A deep dive into the distribution of the county's beetle life, plus a bonus feature on the mysterious Strepsiptera (aka the “Abnormal Coleoptera” 👀). 📍Available now! #Beetles #Oxfordshire @naturebureau.bsky.social

On the home run now for our #FliesofBritainandIreland book bit.ly/4dqQI8Z – Steven Falkhas now completed the text for the Anthomyiidae & we've started laying out the intro pages @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

Here are two spreads to tempt you from the Dung Flies Scathophagidae pages of our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z (maps to be done) for publication this autumn. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

#FliesofBritainandIreland is now 70% complete bit.ly/4dqQI8Z A nice wetland hoverfly, the Waisted Duckfly (Anasimyia contracta) seen at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor, Cothill - a top site for wetland flies @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

We've just started laying out THE WILDLIFE OF THE AVALON MARSHES by Alison Uren. Richly illustrated throughout, the book takes you on a monthly journey around Somerset's wonderful Avalon Marshes nature reserves showcasing the wildlife found there @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @rspb.bsky.social

Our latest book SPIDERS & HARVESTMEN OF YORKSHIRE by Richard I. Wilson is nearing completion for publication this Autumn - Grab a bargain, pre-order your copy now & SAVE £10 on published price - order online at naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social

Delicate pink carpets of Bog Pimpernel (Lysimachia tenella) were flowering in the fen at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor, nr Oxford ... but in the damp marshy grassland at Whiteford Burrows on the Gower there were 1000s. Wonderful! @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbicymru.bsky.social @wildlifekate.bsky.social

4 Soldierflies seen @ BBOWT's Parsonage Moor today - Top Pygmy Soldier, Delicate Soldier. Bottom Orange-horned Green Colonel, Clubbed General @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

Out at Whiteford Burrows on the Gower on Monday, where I spotted this magnificent beast, the rare Strandline Beetle (Eurynebria complanata) – just the one seen lurking by a washed-up log along the strandline @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

This rare orchid, spotted a growing on a verge nr Chinnor has just been confirmed as a Lizard Orchid (Himantoglossum hircinum), a spectacular plant when in flower (right). Great find! @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @naturalengland.bsky.social

Off to the Gower next week & hope to see the magnificent Pied-winged Robberfly (Pamponerus germanicus) at Whiteford Burrows. All of Britain's robberflies are covered in our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

It's #WorldBeeDay today - James Power's THE BEES OF SUSSEX bit.ly/3PlKoX2 describes the county's 229 species @sussexwildlife.bsky.social & find out how you can help #SavetheBees in our POLLINATORS IN CRISIS (on special offer) bit.ly/4it13o5 @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

Went out for a lunchtime break in the sunshine at BBOWT's Greenham Common where we spotted a mating pair of Grizzled Skippers, although we were looking out for Green Hairstreaks, but alas no luck @bbowt.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Hairy-footed Flower Bees were around in our garden this spring & now it's the turn of the rarer Four-banded Flower Bee (Anthophora quadrimaculata) to visit our garden this year. Oxford seems to be a hotspot for them @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Lesser Bulb Fly (Eumerus funeralis) a small hoverfly is common in our garden & develops in Spanish Bluebells, also seen on its leaves was the Large Narcissus Fly a bumblebee mimic #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social

Now laying out the Snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae) pages for our new #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Picture-winged Flies pages are now laid out for our NEW #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now at bit.ly/4dqQI8Z & save £££s on published price @gailashton.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

Flowering now, the all-green Herb-Paris (Paris quadrifolia) is one of the special spring flowers that can be seen at BBOWT's wonderful Warburg Nature Reserve in the Chilterns, nr Henley-on-Thames @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

GET YOUR GARDEN BUZZING with bees, butterflies & hoverflies. POLLINATORS IN CRISIS, on SPRING OFFER bit.ly/4it13o5 tells you which plants to grow to help pollinators thrive in your garden @gardenorganicuk.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

GET YOUR GARDEN BUZZING – Encourage pollinators into your garden. Pollinators in Crisis, on Spring offer bit.ly/4it13o5 tells you which plants to grow to help bees, butterflies & other pollinators @bsbibotany.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

Female Red-tailed Mason Bees (Osmia bicolor) were out at BBOWT's Warburg reserve on Sunday in the sunshine - this one was seen on Barren Strawberry (Potentilla sterilis) flowers on the chalk grassland @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Moschatel (aka Town-hall-clock and Good Friday Plant) is now in flower. This delightful little green-flowered plant typically flowers from March into April (coinciding with Easter). These were seen at Bowdown Woods, nr Newbury today @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

Check your bee-flies carefully, wait til they settle & you should be able to tell a common Dark-edged Bee-fly (left) from the rarer Dotted Bee-fly. Both can be seen now #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Just about to start laying out pages for these little gems, the picture-winged flies for our new book #FliesofBritainandIreland to be published Autumn 2025 – order now & SAVE £££s bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Signs of Spring - first really warm day brought out the butterflies at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit, Brimstones, Peacocks and Comma (pictured) plus a bee-fly was spotted too! @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @upperthames.bsky.social

CONOPIDS are fascinating flies. Females deposit an egg in the abdomen of a bee or wasp whist in flight. The larva develops inside & pupates when the host dies #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Female Hairy-footed Flower Bees collect pollen from a wide range of plants incl Lungwort. Pollinators in Crisis, now on special offer bit.ly/4it13o5 tells you the best plants to grow in your garden to help bees & other pollinators @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Saw my first Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) at the weekend at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit, nr Abingdon @bbowt.bsky.social Lots of other bees were buzzing around the low cliffs in the afternoon as well as fresh male Brimstone butterflies visiting primsroses @tverc1.bsky.social

Our latest book The Nature of the Quantocks has just arrived @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social DayUK - it's the latest in our The Nature of ... series & is still available at the pre-pub price bit.ly/4fFPl8u order by 31 March & save £10 @bbsbryology.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Look out for Early Colletes (Colletes cunicularius), our first Colletes bee to emerge. They can be seen now at several sites in Sussex incl Rye Harbour - find out more in THE BEES OF SUSSEX bit.ly/3PlKoX2 @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Our latest book The Nature of the Quantocks has just arrived @worldbookdayuk.bsky.social - it's the latest in our The Nature of ... series & is still available at the pre-pub price bit.ly/4fFPl8u order by 31 March & save £10 #FrofQuantock @somersetwt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

Drifts of Snowdrops in @bbowt.bsky.social 's Bowdown woods, nr Newbury, on a sunny lunchtime this week attracted a fresh male Yellow Dungfly & a queen Buff-tailed Bumblebee - at last the slow start to Spring begins! @tverc1.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @oxconservationsoc.bsky.social

The wooded combes of Somerset's Quantock Hills are worth exploring for their abundance of #mosses & liverworts, like Tamarisk Scalewort (Frullania tamarisci) & Lesser Yoke-moss (Zygodon conoideus) bit.ly/4fFPl8u #FrofQuantock @somersetwt.bsky.social #BBSbryology @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

In a far flung corner of West Berkshire lies BBOWT's Inkpen Crocus Field - & at this time of year is when the spectacle of 1000s of Spring Crocuses (Crocus verna) appear across the site @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

At NatureBureau we publish a wide range of high quality wildlife atlases, natural history books & field guides under our imprint Pisces Publications - visit our bookshop naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop/ to see our latest titles & pre-publication offers @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

It's always nice to see a book you contributed to in the wild - The Flora of Sutton Park published by @naturebureau.bsky.social

Marvelous #mosses - Marble Screw-moss (Syntrichia papillosa), with its leaves often covered in tiny round gemmae, is worth searching for on tree trunks - these were seen on a willow at @bbowt.bsky.social 's Iffley Meadows, Oxford. You'll need a hand lens to see the tiny gemmae #BBSbryology

Flat-footed Flies might be tiny at 3 to 4 mm in length, but they're amazing little flies - the bright orange Agathomyia wankowiczii was seen #BBOWT's Bowdown Woods #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z #gail_in_nature @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social

💧 Floodplain meadows cover 1.4% of Earth but provide 25% of ecosystem services! 🌱 Vital yet threatened—70% of UK floodplains are urbanised or farmed. Time to restore them! 🌿 More: bit.ly/3Q2hTxJ #WorldWetlandsDay #FloodplainMeadows #Conservation @wetlandexchange.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

Our latest book #TheNatureoftheQuantocks is now winging its way to the printers for publication in March - you can still order at the pre-pub price til the end of March bit.ly/4fFPl8u #FrofQuantock #SomersetWT @bsbibotany.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

It seems rude not to join in! Here’s my snowdrop photo from sunny Lincolnshire today. #WildflowerHour