Well the ragwort flowers are stunning and the bees love it! No caterpillars yet...

It was super midgy at Redpoint ton Wednesday despite the breeze, but it was a sunset to remember. Two weeks hols in Lechnaside was wonderful, heart & camera roll both overflowing!

This horsefly (Hybomitra montana) is caught in a spider web. They have amazing eyes, and won't often pose for photos. They have a painful bite. Does this make spiders your friends?

The pesky mites... actual (wobbly) Nicrophorus action!

This is the answer to the question "where do flies go to die?"

More Nicrophorus action with mites.

The Frog 🧡🖤🧡

Here's a magnificent white crusty lichen. I was going to ask for IDs, but feel this is unfair having looked at @britishlichensociety.org.uk's identification tips britishlichensociety.org.uk/identificati... and realised the amount of work involved!

This thread could go on and on...

Insectivorous plants 2 of 2. Butterwort, (Pinguicula) with insect remains in the sticky leaves, and old flower spike.

Insectivorous plants 1 of 2. Round-leaved Sundew.

The last beetle spotted on this walk was this powerful Dor beetle, with its iridescent violet legs, and remarkable hairiness. Anoplotrupes stercorosus apparently.

Next is this amazing Green Tiger Beetle spotted on a lichen-encrusted rock. It's a stunner!

This is the very glorious Nicrophorus vespilloides (I think), Sexton beetle, here working on burying a dead mouse (sorry😢). Plus phoretic mites!

Following on from my recent posting of Beetleface /Beetlebum photos, here's a series of beetles from today's walk. First off was a Carabus glabratus carrying off roadkill.

Found a 'sheep' tick on the dog! [It helps to have a white dog.] I'm now wishing I had kept this to send to UKHSA www.gov.uk/guidance/tic...

Delighted to see a deer... but it's the wrong side of the cattle grid. I think this is a red deer.

Beetle bum! Dor beetle (Anoplotrupes stercorosus) Plus 3 cling-ons. Surprisingly hairy undercarriage.

Beetleface

A grasshopper. Never sure which species

There is a shed skin nearby, you want to go somewhere safe for moulting... There is always a wonder when you look closely at life.

Spider on the window... It's a lace-weaver, possibly Amaurobius fenestralis living up to its name.

Warming up is very important. Slow worm.

Greater butterfly orchid 💖

Slug hug

My #WildflowerHour winner is Bog asphodel, it's such a beauty.

This could be Phylloneta impressa. It's awesome.

Carabus glabratus crossing the road in the rain. The 'glabratus' means smooth.

Pine marten cutie

Nice orchid, possibly Heath Spotted.