Check out the news from this season in our latest Leeds Swifts newsletter, including some incredible rehabbing stories with 96 Swifts being flown after rescues across the region: www.leedsswifts.com/post/leeds-s... #swifts #ukbirds #birds #swiftconservation #yorkshirebirds #leeds

Lovely morning at RSPB St Aidan's with @leedsbirder.bsky.social. This Hobby (Falco subbuteo) hawking for dragonflies and hirundines over our heads was certainly a highlight 🤩

I have a HEDGEHOG living in my garden and I'm absolutely smitten 💖🦔 Please note: These photos was taken at nighttime in near darkness. It just appears quite bright because the security light on my patio had briefly come on... (1/2)

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon tiercel, 'ZA6' (Falco peregrinus) photographed just after he fledged earlier this month on University of Leeds campus. #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birds @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social 🪶

My constant source of hair inspo is '90s Leonardo DiCaprio and I make no apologies for it.

Oh hi! Just had a pair of Osmia leaiana bees bangin' on my finger. How's your day been?

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon tiercel, 'ZA6' (Falco peregrinus) photographed just after he fledged earlier this month on University of Leeds campus. #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birds @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social 🪶

I just love holding them 🥹

Oh hi! Just had a pair of Osmia leaiana bees bangin' on my finger. How's your day been?

Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Brockadale Nature Reserve 💚 @britishdragonflies.bsky.social

On Saturday @unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social and I had a great day out with @birderbee.bsky.social at @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Brockadale Nature Reserve looking at Marbled Whites. Always a thrill seeing them! @savebutterflies.bsky.social @bcyorkshire.bsky.social #UKButterflies #YorkshireWildlife

Red Kite (Milvus milvus) at Brockadale Nature Reserve ❤️ #redkite #milvusmilvus #birds #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025

Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens). A beauty! 💙 #goldenbloomedgreylonghornbeetle #agapanthiavillosoviridescens #longhornbeetle #beetles

When you're stuck in standstill traffic on your way to the nature reserve with @unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social so you may as well go look for mini-beasts in the motorway verge... 🔍😆 📷 by @wildfozzy.bsky.social Thanks for a lovely day, you two! 💚

Peonies envy, anyone? 😆

Ruby-tailed Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis ignita I think?) in the garden today. Still trying to capture my ideal shot of one of these beautiful solitary wasps! They are tricky, but I am enjoying the challenge nonetheless. There are two currently overnighting in one my bee hotels.

Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) in the (you guessed it!) garden, Leeds UK. June 2025. Another 'macro' shot taken on my iPhone 7 Plus. #gardenspider #europeangardenspider #crossspider #araneusdiadematus #ukspiders

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus, adult female) on campus @universityofleeds.bsky.social. This is '7.H', queen of the Leeds skies, current resident female of the Parkinson building and mother to this year's 4 fledglings 🥰 #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025

It was a pleasure to get these shots of 'ZA6', only a few hours after his maiden flight from the nest tray high up on the Parkinson building 😍 We watched him hatching only 5 weeks ago! #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #birds 🪶

Outside looking in, inside looking out. Adventures with fledging urban Peregrines #ornithology #ukbirds #peregrinefalcon

Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis, female) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. Only the fellas have 'thick legs', in case you were wondering. #thickleggedflowerbeetle #Oedemeranobilis

This made me smile 😆 Artist: www.amiiillustrates.com #birds

Portrait of 'ZA6', one of the young Peregrine Falcon tiercels (males) who fledged from Parkinson Tower on @universityofleeds.bsky.social campus yesterday 😍 #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #nikonphotography #ukbirdwatching #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025 #birds 🪶

Orange-vented Mason Bee (Osmia leaiana, female) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #orangeventedmasonbee #osmialeaiana #solitarybees #ukbees #macrophotograph

This is 'ZA6', one of the young Peregrine Falcon tiercels (males) who fledged from Parkinson Tower on @universityofleeds.bsky.social campus yesterday 😍 #peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #nikonphotography #ukbirdwatching #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025 #birds 🪶

Loved watching and filming this charming Marsh Tit family. The juveniles were learning to feed and cling on! #ornithology #marshtit #ukbirds vimeo.com/1090200873

Neighbours 🥰

European Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) busy hunting for its chicks, North Yorkshire. June 2025. #dipper #europeandipper #whitethroateddipper #cincluscinclus #birdsseenin2025 #bbcspringwatch

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis, male) in North Yorkshire. June 2025. #kingfisher #alcedoatthis #ukbirdphotography #commonkingfisher #birds

Black-and-red Froghopper (Cercopis vulnerata) spotted at the Raptor Viewpoint in Wykeham Forest, North Yorkshire. June 2025. #blackandredfroghopper #redandblackfroghopper #cercopisvulnerata @yorkswildlife.bsky.social

Back on it with my best birdin' bud, Paul 🙏 Be sure to check out his fabulous wildlife filming skills @leedsbirder.bsky.social 🤩

Wood-carving Leafcutter Bee (Megachile ligniseca, male) in my garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. I took this photo with my iPhone 7+ #woodcarvingleafcutterbee #Megachileligniseca #solitarybees #ukbees #leafcutterbee #beesseenin2025

And that's a wrap until October! 🎉 Another step closer to my Environmental Science degree with the @openuniversity.bsky.social 🥰

A newly hatched Wood-carving Leafcutter Bee (Megachile ligniseca, male) in my garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #woodcarvingleafcutterbee #Megachileligniseca #solitarybees #ukbees #leafcutterbee #beesseenin2025

Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #hairyshieldbug #shieldbug #dolycorisbaccarum #bug #natureinbritain #macrophoto #stinkbug

Soldier beetle (Cantharis livida I believe?) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. One of many currently basking on my wildflowers 💚 #soldierbeetle #lividsoldierbeetle #palesoldierbeetle #cantharislivida #insect #natureinbritain #beetle #macrophoto

I was not emotionally prepared for the #Lush E.T. #bathbomb.

It’s Mary Anning’s birthday, so time to share @katebeaton.bsky.social’s brilliant cartoon again.

Small Magpie moth (Anania hortulata) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #smallmagpie #smallmagpiemoth #ananiahortulata #moth #mothsmatter #ukinsects

Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis, male) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. My first TLFB of the year! 💚 #thickleggedflowerbeetle #Oedemeranobilis #beetles

😎

Off to my Mum's for the weekend... and making the most of a quiet carriage to do some studying 🚊 Just one assignment left until the summer break, eeeeeee! 😍 @openuniversity.bsky.social #OUfamily

Can you believe my little lady will be 14 this year?! Still a kitten face, still plays with all her toys, still goes for zoomies around the house at 4am, still demands we go up to bed when she does. I love this little tuxedo wearing baby angel with all my heart and soul. I adore you, Mitsi! 🐾

Another hand-painted sea glass masterpiece created by my dear friend Dorota 🤍 I am so in love with it! 🥹 #greyheron #heron #ardeacinerea #ukbirds #seaglass #heronfashion (cc. @everyheron.bsky.social)

Impossibly small man, on the Apps (miniscule sub 1mm Scelionid wasp boy, possibly Baeus 🤎)

I'm so looking forward to getting home from work and having a nap in the garden.

Snoozy #cuddlepuddle 😴 #unileedsperegrines

You summoned me? Herondipity - the faculty or phenomenon of finding Heron moments not sought for. 🌙

Red Mason Beebies! (Osmia bicornis) recently laid in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #redmasonbee #osmiabicornis #ukbees #solitarybees #bees

Red Mason Beebies! (Osmia bicornis) recently laid in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025. #redmasonbee #osmiabicornis #ukbees #solitarybees #bees