Pyramidal Orchid up on the front lawn, partially covered by the Ivy Bee excavations. Sawston, Cambs. @ukorchids.bsky.social

The Bee Orchids are up on the front lawn/meadow. The Ivy Bee colony is also appreciating the short-cropped grass. No sign of the Pyramidal Orchids yet. Sawston, Cambs. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Cambridge City and South Cambs Councils are running a consultation on a new Climate & Nature strategy engage.cambridge.gov.uk/en-GB/projec...

First couple of Redwings this autumn over Babraham this morning. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social

Common Blue on the left, Brown Argus on the right @magogdown.bsky.social today. See if you can 'spot' the difference. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

This Clouded Yellow was the last butterfly recorded on today's transect @magogdown.bsky.social. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Emerald Damselfly at Wandlebury, Cambridge today. Thanks @epollard.bsky.social for the ID. @cambridgeppf.bsky.social @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Contender for the smallest Brown Argus of the year at Wandlebury, Cambs, today. I originally thought it was a Small Blue. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @cambridgeppf.bsky.social

Brown Argus and Small Copper @magogdown.bsky.social today. Small Coppers are having a better year on the Down, compared to the last few years, with eight counted on today's transect. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

UKBMS data is crucial for research. A new paper uses 45 yrs of UKBMS data to examine how extreme climate events affect butterfly populations in England. Heatwaves during hibernation or early life stages and heavy rain during later stages have -ve effects. Its worth a read - buff.ly/nOU2Zod

A good show of Adonis Blues at Therfield Heath today. @bc-hertsmiddx.bsky.social

One of several Autumn Lady's Tresses seen today in Bedfordshire.

A very fresh (male, I think) Small Blue @magogdown.bsky.social this afternoon. Interestingly, it was one of three seen today and all were pretty fresh. Late second brood or from a possible third? @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

The meadows at Wandlebury, Cambridge, are currently looking fantastic and look like they are being managed well. Small Coppers are doing really well there. A family of Spotted Flycatchers also about, plus a Clouded Yellow. @cambsbirdclub.bsky.social @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

55 million non-native pheasants/partridge released each year into our countryside and causing all types of harm just so a few can shoot. raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/01/s... raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/08/01/s...

Hummingbird Hawk-moth caterpillar on Hedge Bedstraw in the driveway this morning. Sawston, Cambs.

A short walk at Wandlebury, Cambridge, this afternoon. One battered Clouded Yellow present, missing its antennae, plus several Small Coppers on territory. The Small Copper picture courtesy of my daughter. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

At pleasurewood near Lowestoft this afternoon. I wonder if I was the only person to spot Purple Hairstreak butterflies in the Oak at the top of this ride? @bc-suffolk.bsky.social

We.need to ban dogs from freshwater in the UK until we work out a resolution for this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

The biggest Wasp Spider I have seen. This is on our front 'lawn' today. Sawston, Cambs.

One of a few Scotch Argus seen last weekend at Arnside Knott, Cumbria. A 'lifer' for me and difficult to photograph. The slightest bit of sun and they're off!

The Clouded Yellow influx to the UK has made it to the @magogdown.bsky.social, Cambridge. This female, recorded on today's transect, was laying eggs on Bird's-foot Trefoil. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukbms.bsky.social

Wasp Spider @magogdown.bsky.social today. Unfortunately, it has set up camp in one of the Small Blue hotspots, with three already in its web. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

A pair of Small Blues @magogdown.bsky.social making the most of the small window of sunshine this afternoon. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Someone's about to be knocked off their perch. Small Red-eyed Damselflies (I think - happy to be corrected) at Dernford reservoir this afternoon. Cambridgeshire. Lesser Emperor also present - thank you @epollard.bsky.social for the ID. @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

Second generation Small Blues on the wing @magogdown.bsky.social today. At least four very fresh Small Coppers also seen this morning. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Buff-tip moth caterpillars feeding on the garden Beech. Sawston, Cambs.

I find it hilarious that people still feel the need to cut their already scalped, brown and dried up lawns. Social conditioning at its best.

Elephant Hawk-moth hanging out in the garden this evening. Sawston, Cambs.

Ringlet in the garden this morning. Sawston @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Ragwort is a great plant to entice White-letter Hairstreaks down from neighbouring Elm trees, as was the case with this one between Babraham and Sawston this evening. Purple Hairstreaks also not too far on the Oaks. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Extracting peat destroys one of our best carbon stores and trashes a unique, biodiverse habitat. Doing so to grow pretty flowers is hugely selfish. Ever heard of the climate and ecology crisis? Come on, RHS, show some spine!

Humming-bird Hawk-moth attempting to lay eggs on the Hedge Bedstraw growing out of the patio. Sawston

Gatekeeper in the garden this morning. Sawston @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

One of three Small Coppers (left image) seen this evening between Babraham and Sawston. Plus a very fresh Painted Lady (right). @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Picking up @jonnycaribou69.bsky.social on the way, today's trip to Woodwalton Fen was for Purple Emperors. They didn't disappoint, accompanied by a Purple Hairstreak cloud in the same Oak. The Purple Emperor pictured found sustenance in the paint and woodwork. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

One of two Lunar Hornet Moths to respond to LUN pheromone this afternoon. The response was within minutes, suggesting they are resident in the neighbouring wood. Sawston, Cambs.

A fresh second brood Brown Argus @magogdown.bsky.social this morning. For those of you into your orchids, it looks like this one has been attempting to feed from a Pyramidal Orchid, as shown by the pollinia stuck to the proboscis. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

An early start at Wandlebury this morning. The two White-letter Hairstreak colonies that I know of there are still going. This was one of at least three males battling it out for a territory today. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Another White-letter Hairstreak today, this time in the top of a tall Elm in Milton Country Park (excuse the poor photo through a spotting scope). No luck with Purple Hairstreak yet, despite sightings elsewhere in Cambs @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social @epollard.bsky.social @andrewknights.bsky.social

My Father's Day treat at Brampton Wood was 20 minutes of sunshine between some rain and family wanting to go home. However, it was enough of a window to find an egg-laying female Black Hairstreak and a fresh White Admiral @wildlifebcn.org @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Marbled Whites in peak condition @magogdown.bsky.social at the moment and certainly the most numerous butterfly on yesterday's transect (until the Skippers and Meadow Browns get going). @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

Two new locations for Black Hairstreaks have been discovered so far this weekend in Northamptonshire. Please keep checking those blackthorns as there must be more out there. White-letter Hairstreaks are also now out so please check any elms for new populations of those too!

Some good live Badger action on @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social last night.

I gave up twitching many years ago and it would take a special bird to get me out these days. This male Red-backed Shrike at Fen Drayton today is one of them.

Take my word for it, this is a White-letter Hairstreak sitting in the Elm @magogdown.bsky.social this morning. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social

@bbcspringwatch.bsky.social Concerning the direct competition between Great Tits and Pied Flycatchers, plus the big increase in Great Tit numbers, is it possible that Pied Flycatcher numbers are being indirectly affected by garden bird feeding, something that Great Tits benefit massively from?

Our latest research shows spot-on flea treatments on dogs are released into water when dogs swim even 28 days after treatment - in contrast to the label which suggests dogs can safely swim 48 h after treatment. www.newscientist.com/article/2482...

Pyramidal and Bee Orchids now in flower on the front lawn. Sawston, Cambs. @ukorchids.bsky.social

Many thanks to @epollard.bsky.social for guiding this morning's Small Blue walk @magogdown.bsky.social. It was really pleasing to see a good number of people turn up. The Small Blues did not disappoint, with some fresh specimens still about. @bc-cambs-essex.bsky.social