A successful Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night searching for Mediterranean Oil Beetles Meloe mediterraneus at Start Point, Devon. The group found 9 along the coast path and we managed to dodge the showers!

Devil's Coach Horse Ocypus olens feeding on a slug on the Life on the Edge @southdevonnl walk last night at Start Point, Devon.

A few Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum still active in the garden yesterday nectaring on Mahonia - the latest I have ever recorded them. Also a few Honeybees and a Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Buckfastleigh, Devon

A few years ago we planted some Hebe and Mahonia especially for winter active bees in our garden. In the mild weather this week there were plenty of Common Carder Bees Bombus pascuorum plus a few Honeybees Apis mellifera and Buff-tailed Bumblebees Bombus terrestris visiting the flowers.

A few butterflies out in the sunshine at Start Point, Devon last Sunday. This Clouded Yellow Colias croceus and 2 Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta, one of which set off on a migration south across the sea about midday.

Nemastoma bimaculatum - one of the UKs commonest harvestmen often found under rocks lying on the ground. Orley Common, Devon

Freshly moulted Dicranopalpus larvatus harvestman at Radford Woods, Plymouth. Devon

The harvestman Nelima gothica in Plymouth, Devon last week

Hedgehog Harvestman Nemastomella bacilliferum, Plymouth, Devon, this very distinctive but tiny harvestman is found at several sites around the city. It has not been found anywhere else in the UK but may be overlooked? It is usually found sat on the underside of rocks lying on the ground.

Male Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon. This UK endemic usually peaks in December but I found 16 (mostly adults) one day last week so seems to be having an earlier season this year.

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii with Ringed Plover and Dunlin this afternoon at Colliford Reservoir, Cornwall thanks to the finder Jennie Hale

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus chasing Garfish Belone belone in the race at Start Point, Devon yesterday

Sketches of moths caught at light this week: Merveille du Jour, Common Marbled Carpet, The Vestal and Red-green Carpet, Buckfastleigh, Devon

Classic seawatching at St Ives, Cornwall yesterday 1000s of birds including Gannets, Sooty Shearwater, Bonxie, Grey Phalarope, Storm and Leach's Petrels, Arctic and Long-tailed Skuas and Sabine's Gull thanks to the locals for giving directions on the birds before they disappeared around the corner

A magical evening watching the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus hunting Garfish Belone belone in almost flat calm conditions, Start Point, Devon

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Thunnus thynnus showing well as they chased Garfish Belone belone in a calm sea at Start Point, Devon yesterday

Mediterranean Stick Insect Bacillus rossius, Hayling Island, Hampshire

Leiobunum blackwalli harvestman Bovey Heath, Devon today

Heath Bristletail Dilta littoralis Bovey Heath, Devon today

Sub-adult Horrid Ground Weaver Nothophantes horridus in Plymouth, Devon today. The first record for September of this UK endemic spider. They mature in November with a peak of activity for the adults in December.

Cave Bristletail Trigoniophthalmus alternatus Buckfastleigh Devon

Although usually found amongst Marram Grass on the coast the jumping spider Marpissa nivoyi also occurs amongst Purple Moor Grass on heathland. Bovey Heath @devonwildlifetrust today

The adorable Marpissa muscosa also known as the Fencepost Jumping Spider on some standing deadwood in our garden today. Buckfastleigh, Devon

Zebra Jumping Spider Salticus scenicus feeding on a small cranefly on the wall of our house yesterday. Buckfastleigh, Devon

It was great to see Moss Carder Bees Bombus muscorum of the distinctive dark form 'agricolae' on Shetland in June this year.

Lots of tiny Holly Parachute fungi Marasmius hudsonii on rotting Holly leaves today, Buckfastleigh, Devon

translucent Light Emerald moth Campaea margaritata resting on underside of Ash leaf, Buckfastleigh, Devon

Bathing Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Hayling Island, Hampshire

At this time of year the Heath Potter Wasps Eumenes coarctatus often clump pots together rather than searching for new locations for each one. This one had a quadruple set. South Devon

It has been a very good year for the Heath Potter Wasps Eumenes coarctatus in south Devon. Still lots of 2nd brood females active building pots on sunny days.

Wryneck Jynx torquilla using its long tongue to extract ants and other small invertebrates from the ground. It visited several ant nests regularly leaving its poo by them. Turf Locks, Exe Estuary, Devon

Male House Sparrow Passer domesticus annoying the Wryneck Jynx torquilla this afternoon at Turf Locks, Exe Estuary, Devon

Wryneck Jynx torquilla showing very well at Turf Locks, Exe Estuary, Devon yesterday evening.

Sea Lavender Plume moth Agdistis bennetii, Hayling Island, Hampshire

Male Common Furrow Bees Lasioglossum calceatum gathering to roost on Lavender. Buckfastleigh, Devon

Common Furrow Bee Lasioglossum calceatum. The males always form a roost in our front garden at this time of year. They return to exactly the same Lavender plant each evening. Buckfastleigh, Devon

Beautifully camouflaged male Golden Horsefly Atylotus fulva in its sphagnum bog habitat, Dartmoor, Devon

I am leading a bug walk at Newbridge, Dartmoor Devon on Saturday 26 July 2025 from 2 to 4 pm

Highlight of our recent trip to Shetland was seeing this pod of Orca Orcinus orca in Nesting Bay - thanks to the Cetacean WhatsApp group

Ramsons Hoverfly Portevinia maculata, Buckfastleigh, Devon today

Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus singing in birches, Dartmoor, Devon

Sketches of the Hoopoe Upupa epops at Berry Head, Brixham, Devon earlier this week.

A showy Hoopoe Upupa epops at Berry Head fort, Brixham today thanks @clennonvalley.bsky.social it was settled in and feeding well and was admired by a steady stream of people many who had never seen one before.

Leucophora flies intercepting pollen-laded Grey-backed Andrena vaga and Red-vented Mining Bees A ventralis. The fly will sit close to the bee burrow until the bee leaves before entering and laying her eggs The fly larvae will feed on the pollen collected by the bee. Blashford Lakes, Hampshire

Grey-backed Mining Bee Andrena vaga and Red-vented Mining Bee Andrena ventralis both spring flying willow specialists. Blashford Lakes, Hampshire yesterday

Cliff Mining Bees Andrena thoracica on Alexanders at Prawle Point, Devon this afternoon

A successful evening searching for Blue Ground Beetles Carabus granulatus on the edge of Bodmin Moor, Cornwall 12 seen with highlights this turquoise female and a mating pair plus extra male

Yellow-legged Mining Bee Andrena flavipes nesting aggregation along the coast path at Churston Cove, Torbay, Devon yesterday

Black Oil Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus female digging an egg burrow in a mole hill. After digging she will reverse in to lay several hundred eggs. I ran out of time so have put in some stills of this. Two people asked me if I was waiting to try and film the Mole coming out! Broadsands, Torbay, Devon

A beautiful day on the coast watching these 2 Red-necked Grebes Podiceps grisegena - first I have seen in breeding plumage for many years - thanks @clennonvalley.bsky.social for the tip-off. Between Broadsands and Churston Cove, Torbay, Devon