Found a Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) sitting on a window underneath a porch light in Upshire, Essex today. #UKMoths #EssexWildlife

A lunchtime walk doubled my ladybird spp count for the year with the first Harlequin (Harmonia axyridis) and Cream-spot Ladybirds (Calva quatuordecimguttata)

Fun surprise this week - this delightful ladybird dropped out of a bush at work while beating some foliage. Having not met one before, I assumed it was a massive Scymnus, but no, it's Rhyzobius forestieri, an introduced species from Australia, just hanging out. Rather exciting! #Entomology #Ladybird

Conveyor belt of deluges this pm… found Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), Scymnus suturalis (Conifer Ladybird) and new for my #LadybirdYearList Anatis ocellata (Eyed Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

A Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) tapped out of ivy at Fishers Green in the Lee Valley a couple of days ago. #EssexWildlife #UKBugs

Nice views of the Tundra Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris) at Hooks Marsh in the Lee Valley this morning. Flew in from fields with a large flock of Greylag Geese and landed on lake. #EssexBirds

A very damp mooch y'day in north Shrops, finding Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh LB), Anisosticta 19-punctata (Water LB), a quartet (see ALT for species names) from same grass tussock and Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly LB) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Another hour in Topsham Cemetery today and a few goodies: Beetles and Barkflies: looks like two new species for me. Names in Alt Texts

A group of two-pronged bristletails (Diplura) found under rotting wooden planks in Upshire yesterday. I do not see these interesting hexapods very often, always a pleasure. #EssexWildlife

Actual sunshine yesterday!!! Made all the difference with 14 species found including Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird), Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) in north Shrops #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Rather late to the party with this one! New for my #LadybirdYearList Halyzia sedecimguttata (Orange Ladybird) from north Shropshire today #VC40Ladybirds

Friday afternoon’s mooch was a tad damp! Found Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Rhyzobius litura (Meadow Ladybird), Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird) and Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Two 7-spot Ladybirds, one 22-spot Ladybird and three Arboreal Ladybirds, all tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden yesterday. These are the three most regular species on my patch. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

It feels like a slow start to my 2026 #LadybirdYearList! 🐞 2️⃣ Heather Ladybird (Chilocorus bipustulatus) in a nearby churchyard. It was in such an awkward place for a photo on the underside of a gravestone - but well protected from the seemingly incessant rain. Good job! ☔️ #UKLadybirds

#LadybirdYearList Species #11: a single Meadow Ladybird (Rhyzobius litura) tapped from seed heads at Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone this morning. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

It was rather wet yesterday... a few finds include Harmonia axyridis (Harlequin LB) with Hesperomyces harmoniae from ivy, Anisosticta 19-punctata (Water LB) from Bulrushes, Scymnus suturalis (Conifer LB) from pine and Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy LB) from ivy! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

#LadybirdYearList Species #10: a single 10-spot Ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) tapped out of a pine tree in Upshire this afternoon. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Today’s mooch in mid Shropshire produced Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird), Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) and Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird), amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

Between the deluges this afternoon, found Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal Ladybird), Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird) and Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) with another Ivy LB, amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

#LadybirdYearList Species #9: a single 24-spot Ladybird (Subcoccinella vigintiquatuorpunctata) tapped out of Common Fleabane seed heads alongside a 7-spot Ladybird in Waltham Abbey this afternoon. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Rescued a Great Diving Beetle (Dytiscus marginalis) found in a milk bottle bucket under a porch light in Upshire, yesterday morning. Returned to a nearby pond. #EssexWildlife #UKBeetles

#LadybirdYearList Species #8: a single Pine Ladybird (Exochomus quadripustulatus) tapped out of a Yew tree at Fishers Green today, alongside the ubiquitous 7-spot and Arboreal Ladybirds. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

When I took Mum to the hairdressers on Saturday, whilst I was waiting, I tickled some ivy near the salon, and found a couple of Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird). #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

A couple of 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) and three Arboreal Ladybirds (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

#LadybirdYearList Species #7: a single Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata) tapped out of ivy at Fishers Green today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Back to being rather chilly, after a mild couple of days! Today's lunchtime mooch produced another new species for my #LadybirdYearList, Scymnus suturalis (Conifer Ladybird) #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

A few from today’s wet, windy and cold mooch in Gnosall. Coccidula rufa (Red Marsh Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird), Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird) and Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird), amongst others #MicroLadybird #Coccinellidae

Quick lunchtime mooch before the rain arrives, produced a single Anisosticta 19-punctata (Water Ladybird) from a Bulrush sheaf (replaced carefully afterwards!), new for my #LadybirdYearList. #VC40Ladybirds

#LadybirdYearList Species #6: a couple of Arboreal Ladybirds (Rhyzobius chrysomeloides) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

A couple more Red-rumped Ladybirds (Scymnus haemorrhoidalis) at lunchtime today, one with 16-spot and 22-spot, plus new for my #LadybirdYearList, Nephus redtenbacheri (Red-patched Ladybird). #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

#LadybirdYearList Species #5: a single Bristly Ladybird (Rhyzobius lophanthae) tapped out of an ornamental juniper in an Upshire garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Thrilled to have a new garden tick this morning, with Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird), then a couple more for my #LadybirdYearList with Propylea 14-punctata (14-spot Ladybird) and Scymnus haemorrhoidalis (Red-rumped Ladybird) at lunchtime. #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird

#LadybirdYearList Species #4: a single Cream-spot Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) tapped out of gorse at Fishers Green today. Always pleased to catch up with this species, not rare but rarely common and my sightings are always rather random. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

#LadybirdYearList Species #3: a single Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in my Waltham Abbey garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Up and running with my 2026 #LadybirdYearList! 🐞 1️⃣ 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) on my local heathland. What a great place for an over-winter snooze! #UKLadybirds

#LadybirdYearList Species #2: a single 22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) tapped out of a Euonymus shrub in an Upshire garden today. #EssexWildlife #UKLadybirds

Here we go. Another year, another #LadybirdYearList. First stop, Saint Mary’s churchyard in Morpeth, my “home patch”. Quite low totals, but 5 species: 1. 7-spot Ladybird (x6) 2. Harlequin Ladybird (x9) 3. Cream-spot Ladybird (x2) 4. Orange Ladybird (x62) 5. 10-spot Ladybird (x1) #NELadybirdSpot

And finally, for my #LadybirdYearList are Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly Ladybird), Nephus quadrimaculatus (Ivy Ladybird), Stethorus pusillus (Dot Ladybird) and Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked Ladybird) 4 of 4 #MicroLadybird

Next for my #LadybirdYearList are Adalia decempunctata (10-spot Ladybird), Harmonia quadripunctata (Cream-streaked Ladybird), Rhyzobius litura (Meadow Ladybird) and Chilocorus renipustulatus (Kidney-spot Ladybird) #MicroLadybird 3 of 4

Continuing with my #LadybirdYearList from today are Calvia 14-guttata (Cream-spot Ladybird), Aphidecta obliterata (Larch Ladybird), Exochomus quadripustulatus (Pine Ladybird), Hippodamia variegata (Adonis Ladybird) 2 of 4

A good chilly mooch today just over the border in Staffs, to kick off my #LadybirdYearList with Harmonia axyridis (Harlequin Ladybird), Coccinella septempunctata (7-spot Ladybird), Psyllobora 22-punctata (22-spot Ladybird) and Tytthaspis 16-punctata (16-spot Ladybird) 1 of 4

Tapped an attractive micro-moth out of ivy in my Waltham Abbey garden today, I think it is a Fig-leaf Skeletoniser (Choreutis nemorana), although no Fig trees in the immediate vicinity. #EssexWildlife #UKMoths

#LadybirdYearList Species #1: plenty of 7-spot Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) in an Upshire, Essex garden today, including several hibernating clusters on fence posts. #UKLadybirds #EssexWildlife

Finishing the year with a new ladybird for Red Moss of Netherley: 𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘳𝘶𝘧𝘢 - Red Marsh Ladybird. Seems to be widespread but few Aberdeenshire records. This one was tucked away between the clasp and body of an Audiomoth case. @ukladybirds.bsky.social

2025 Flora highlights: Early Spider Orchid (Ophrys sphegodes), Lady Orchid (Orchis purpurea), Monkey Orchid (Orchis simia) and Late Spider Orchid (Ophrys fuciflora) all seen in Kent this year; some beautiful species in some very special habitats. #UKOrchids #KentFlora

Some of my 2025 ladybird highlights, mostly seen with @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social : 13-spot LB, 1 of 2 seen on the Somerset Levels. Then 3 micro spp: Willow LB, Horseshoe LB which I was chuffed to find in my garden & Schmidt's LB, found by @vc40ladybirds.bsky.social who kept it so I could 'tog it.

Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima) seen in flower on the seashore at Holland Haven Country Park, Essex on Christmas day. #WildFlowerHour

2025 wildlife highlights: two new species of ladybird seen, White-spot Ladybird in the New Forest and 13-spot Ladybird in Sussex completing the known resident species; a smart New Forest Shieldbug seen in the New Forest, and a trip to Devon coincided with the Lesser Crested Tern on the Exe Estuary.

2025 summary of my local Striped Shieldbug population: adults seen 25 April-10 Nov, max of 86; nymphs seen 21 July-27 Oct, max 37. Numbers much reduced at Fishers Green, but several good populations now in Waltham Abbey, especially Abbey Gardens and Ninefields. #EssexWildlife #UKBugs

A nice Xmas Eve mooch, specifically for Micros in a well recorded Macro area in mid Shropshire, finding Rhyzobius chrysomeloides (Arboreal LB), Rhyzobius lophanthae (Bristly LB) with 10-spot LB, and plenty of Scymnus interruptus (Red-flanked LB) amongst others! #VC40Ladybirds #MicroLadybird