The holy grail this morning and then it was away - Clifden Nonpareil

Little male Yellow Loosestrife Bee - Macropis europaea on its host plant by the garden pond

The once rare Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus now found in my garden

Grey-patched Mining Bee, Andrena nitida photographed on a sandy track near a former golf course in Oxfordshire today As ever HT to Steven Falk and @rlewington2.bsky.social for their wonderful 'Field Guide to the Bees of Great Britain and Ireland'A

Thanks Wylie. The guide should introduce you to most of the spiders you encounter in your travels - the species appearing in it were carefully chosen.

First damselfly of the year in the garden, a female Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum

The aerobatic Dotted Bee-fly - Bombylius discolor in the garden yesterday

Nice review by Bill Parker, of my spider guide, in the @britishspiders.bsky.social newsletter

Yes, I’m beginning to wonder if Labour is just like all the other parties, in making promises to get votes and then doing nothing.

Reed Bunting have just started visiting the garden, very twitchy.

A dull breezy morning, brightened up by a lively group of Long-tailed Tits.

Sadly, this fantastic Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm f/4 IS PRO lens has to go. For further details, please visit www.richardlewington.co.uk Repost appreciated

Don’t mind at all, Keith

This male Gadwall wont let this female Mallard out of his sight in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. He’s been obsessed with her for months.

I am giving a talk this Thursday 6 February 2025 on the Secret World of the Undergrowth featuring leafcutter bees, Beachcomber Beetles, Iberian Spoonwings and Puss Moths at Buckland-in-the-Moor Village Hall near Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7HW at 7.30 pm All welcome.

Out today, hope it’s well received.

Thanks, and pleased you like it.

Publishing this week – Richard Lewington's brilliant new guide to British spiders. Pocket-sized, field-friendly and packing a powerful arachnid punch. Perfect for all lovers of Britain's wildlife. Order a copy here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/pocket-gu...

In bookshops from 30th January and available now on pre-order, @rlewington2.bsky.social's authoritative and exquisitely illustrated new @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social pocket guide to Britain's commonest and most easily recognizable spiders. Highly recommended! #spiders #arachnology

Thanks, pleased to hear you like it.

I’m still waiting

New spider book!🕷 @rlewington2.bsky.social has produced this beautiful guide to some of our UK species. A while ago I provided 'models' of cave-dwelling sps. V. happy to get a copy of the finished book as thanks😊 Buy it. And make 2025 the year you get into spiders! @britishspiders.bsky.social

5 Stock Dove and 10 Wood Pigeon in my frosty garden this morning.

Thanks Steph

Good morning! This @wildjustice.bsky.social petition on driven grouse shooting is 2nd most-signed petition in last hour. We approach 6k signatures. I'd love to reach 10k before 3:30pm (ie first 24hrs). It'll be tough but let's send a strong message to Defra. petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

Not quite the real thing, Edward, but pleased to hear you like it,

Merry Christmas followers old and new. We navigate towards a brighter future here on Bluesky. A flavour of what we've got coming up in 2025 to whet your whistle – Pocket Guide to British Spiders by @rlewington2.bsky.social (Jan), Mammals of Iberia by @jameslowenwild.bsky.social & Carlos Bocos(Feb),

Thanks Ash, lovely welcome. X

Thanks for a great welcome Pete

I've joined Bluesky! Hoping to follow and be followed by many of my X/Twitter friends. Please Retweet/Repost or whatever the word is. #invertebrates #insects #moths #dragonflies #wildlife