Orchids at White Sheet Hill, Wiltshire, yesterday - Bee, Common Spotted and Common Twayblade. #Nature #Wildlife #Orchid #Wildflower #Wildflowerhour #Flower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Other Lepidoptera from White Sheet Hill, Wiltshire yesterday - Adonis Blue, Grizzled Skipper, Marsh Fritillary and Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet #Butterfly #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Glanville Fritillary at White Sheet Hill, Wiltshire, yesterday. It's uncertain if this population of this rare butterfly has been introduced, or arrived here naturally. Named after its discover, Eleanor Glanville. #Butterfly #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

This is Henry, and the centipede in his beak is for his nestlings. This will likely be his final nest of the year - hopefully this one will make it. #Nature #Wildlife #Bird #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography

Chalk Fragrant Orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) at Morgan's Hill, near Calne. Both pink and white-flowered spikes present. Pollinated by moths, such as Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Silver-Y and Hummingbird Hawkmoth #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Orchid #Wildflower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Fly Orchid (Ophrys insectifera) at Morgan's Hill, Wiltshire. Usually pollinated by solitary wasps - the scent of the flower is similar to female wasp pheromones, causing the males to attempt to mate with them. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Orchid #Wildflower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

The tiny Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia) at Morgan's Hill, near Calne. Now considered a rarity due to habitat loss. Pollinated mainly by Elephant and Small Elephant Hawkmoths. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Orchid #Wildflower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

#Insects from a fantastic wildlife garden I visited in Paulton, near Bath - Red-belted Clearwing, Holly Blue, Bat-winged Tachnid (Phasia hemiptera) female, and Cow Parsley Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina oricalcia) #Nature #Wildlife #Moth #Butterfly #Beetle #Flies #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Bird's nest Orchid (Neottia nidus-avis) in a Beech wood at Combe Hay, near #Bath. It produces no chlorophyll, but derives most of its nutrients from a mycorrhizal fungus, which derives its nutrients from trees. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Orchid #Wildflower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

The uncommon White Helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium), in a wood at Combe Hay, near #Bath. This orchid grows in some of the dark Beech woods around Bath, especially around old limestone quarries. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Orchid #Wildflower #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

It's time to end the Guga hunt. Sign the petition today. protectthewild.org.uk/gannet-petit...

A hunt that holds a colony back isn't sustainable - it's senseless. End the Guga hunt.

Sorry for the lack of Robin posts lately. Since Little Mate died, I've needed a bit of a break. But I still have Henry, who feeds from my hand, & his mate Celandine. I also see Little Mate's widow a few times a week. Henry has a very different personality to Little Mate, but he's a lovely bird.

First Common Spotted Orchid flower of the year, yesterday at Browne's Folly nature reserve, near #Bath. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Wildflower #Orchid #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Butterflies from Browne's Folly nature reserve near #Bath yesterday - Marsh Fritillary, Painted Lady, Dingy Skipper and Common Blue #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #Butterflies#NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Some insects from Browne's Folly nature reserve near #Bath yesterday - Green Tiger Beetle, Narcissus Bulb Fly, Garden Chafer and Lesser Bloody-nosed Beetle. #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #Beetles #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

One of the phantom craneflies, Ptychoptera contaminata. Adults of this species are usually found on the vegetation near shallow still or slow-flowing water, in which they lay their eggs and develop as larvae. #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Cockchafer beetles. The larvae live in soil and eat plant roots & are an important food item for many species, including moles, birds & other insects. Adults are an important food source for the Greater Horseshoe Bat #Nature #Wildlife #Insects #Beetle #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Moth trap at Bath City Farm over the weekend (3/3): Peppered Moth, Yellow-barred Brindle, and Waved Umber #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #teammoth #Insects #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

Moth trap at Bath City Farm over the weekend (2/3): Common Marbled Carpet, Flame Shoulder, Muslin and Shuttle-shaped Dart #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #teammoth #Insects #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

Moth trap at Bath City Farm over the weekend (1/3): Green Carpet, Cauchas rufimitrella, Celypha lacunana and Common Pug #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #teammoth #Insects #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

Beetles and a bug from Browne's Folly, near #Bath yesterday - Cryptocephalus bipunctatus, Red-headed Cardinal, Green Tiger and Hairy Shieldbug #Nature #Wildlife #Beetles #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Butterflies and caterpillars from Browne's Folly, near #Bath yesterday - Marsh Fritillary, Green Hairstreak, Dingy Skipper and Spindle Ermine caterpillars. #Nature #Wildlife #Butterflies #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Common Twayblade at Brown's Folly, near #Bath. There's several hundred of these orchids growing on this site. #Nature #Wildlife #Flower #Wildflower #Plants #Botany #Orchid #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

A few wild flowers from Langridge, near #Bath - Horseshoe Vetch, Germander Speedwell, Bird's-foot Trefoil and Yellow Rattle. I was very happy to find Horseshoe Vetch, which is now very rare in the area. #Nature #Wildlife #Flowers #Wildflowers #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

A few insects from Langridge, near #Bath - Green Pot Beetle, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath and Silver-Y Moth. #Nature #Wildlife #Insects #Beetle #Butterfly #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

The dung beetle Onthophagus coenobita in Hedgemead Park in #Bath yesterday. Usually found on herbivore dung, also carrion & decaying fungi. Might have flown in from the surrounding countryside. Males have a prominent horn. #Nature #Wildlife #Naturephotography #WildlifePhotography #Beetle #Insects

A Fox cub I spotted on the outskirts of Bath the other day. #Nature #Wildlife #Fox #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

TW - reptiles Went reptile-hunting near Bath, found 4 species - Common Lizard, Adder, Grass Snake and Slow Worm. Sadly, the first 3 of these are now becoming scarce locally. #Nature #Wildlife #Reptiles #Lizards #Snakes #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

Marsh Fritillary butterflies today - the first time they've emerged from within the Bath area since 2019! Last year there was a big influx of them from Wiltshire & they recolonised a former breeding site #Nature #Wildlife #Butterflies #WildlifePhotography #NaturePhotography

A freshly-emerged Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly at Bath City Farm today. #Nature #Wildlife #Bath #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #Insects #Dragonfly

It is with great sadness that I announce that my Robin friend, Little Mate, disappeared last week & is probably no longer with us. I last saw him Weds evening & he seemed happy. I know many of my followers on here loved him too. I've made a short tribute video here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tl-...

Green-winged Orchids (Anacamptis morio) at Lansdown, Bath. A rare orchid in the Bath area but one field on Lansdown has a colony of several thousand. Most have purple flowers but several had pink or white flowers #Nature #Wildlife #Wildflowers #Flowers #Botany #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Butterflies and a moth out today, outskirts of Bath - Green Hairstreak, Small Copper, Muslin Moth and Dingy Skipper. #Nature #Wildlife #Butterflies #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats from a roost in Wellow, near Bath, today. 11 in total in this old tunnel (2 Greater, 9 Lesser). (FYI I have a bat licence) #Nature #Wildlife #Bats #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

My Robin friend Little Mate today. He'll be 4 years old next month, and his mate is sitting on eggs right now. #Bird #Nature #Wildlife #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography

My Robin friend Henry. His chicks have hatched, and he is working very hard to feed them, even in the rain. He seemed very relieved when I showed up with some food this evening. #Nature #Wildlife #Birds #NaturePhotography #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography

A few insects from the Bath Natural History Society outing to Priston (near Bath) yesterday - Epistrophe eligans (a hoverfly), Dotted bee-fly, Dark-edged Bee-fly and Scarce Fungus Weevil (Platyrhinus resinosus) #Nature #Wildlife #Insects #Hoverflies #Beetles #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Three-cornered Leek. It might look pretty, but is an invasive species. It's now dominating a large area of a local wood and has completely wiped out the native woodland flora. There are now thousands of plants, they cover the area so densely that almost no other plants get a chance.

Common Toad sitting in a road in Priston, near Bath. Seemed stunned & may have been hit by a car, but after checking it over I could find no serious injury. I moved it to safety and it wandered off. Sadly, not all toads are this lucky, Several toad patrols operate around Bath in breeding season

First moth trap of the year at Bath City Farm (part 3) - Angle Shades, Clouded Drab, Nut-tree Tussock and a male Muslin #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

First moth trap of the year at Bath City Farm (part 2) - Waved Umber, Hebrew Character, Brindled Beauty and Diamond-back #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

First moth trap of the year at Bath City Farm (part 1) - Chocolate-tip, Least Black Arches, Streamer and Yellow-barred Brindle. #Nature #Wildlife #Moths #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea) at Priston, near Bath. Adults and larvae both eat other insects. The larvae live under bark - I photographed one a few weeks ago (look back through my previous posts) #Nature #Wildlife #Beetle #Insects #NaturePhtography #WildlifePhotography

Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus), found at Langridge, near Bath. This is a male, which have kinked antennae. Oil beetles are nest parasites of solitary bees. #Nature #Wildlife #Beetle #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

A Kestrel and a Buzzard on the outskirts of Bath yesterday. Red Kite also seen. #Nature #Wildlife #Bird #Birds #BirdofPrey #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography

Wild Flowers from the outskirts of Bath yesterday - Cowslip, Hairy Violet, Bluebell and Adder's-tongue fern #Nature #Wildlife #Wildflowers #WildflowerHour #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

Some insects seen on the outskirts of Bath yesterday - Dark-edged Bee-fly, Dotted Bee-fly, Holly Blue and Peacock butterflies. #Nature #Wildlife #Insects #Butterflies #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BathNature

Two spiders: Walnut Orb-weaver (Nuctenea umbratica) - found under bark. Make an orb-web every night. Snake-back Spider (Segestria senoculata) - found under a stone. Makes a tube web and waits at the entrance for unsuspecting prey. #Nature #Wildlife #Spiders #Spider #Arachnid #NaturePhotography

Female Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) at Priston, near Bath. These colourful bees are one of the most easily recognisable solitary bees, and can be abundant in some area in early spring. Their nests resemble mini volcanos in bare earth. #Nature #Wildlife #Insect #Bee #WildlifePhotography