Ian Beavis
@ianbeavis
Research Curator at the Amelia, Tunbridge Wells. Entomologist. Natural historian. Local historian. Ecology & heritage of Scilly & the Channel Islands
An Agave in a cottage garden at New Grimsby, Tresco, Scilly, with birds foraging in the huge flowers
Rosemary Parslow's major publications on Scilly are her New Naturalist overview of the islands' flora & fauna, and her New Flora for the islands
Crocosmia paniculata, a relative of Montbretia, naturalised with Agapanthus on Appletree Banks dunes, Tresco, Scilly #wildflowerhour
Purple Loosestrife on the edge of Abbey Pool, Tresco, Scilly #wildflowerhour
Yellow Horned Poppy & Sea Spurge on a beach on St Agnes, Scilly #wildflowerhour
And another cuckoo species on the same patch of Mexican Fleabane in Tresco Abbey Gardens - satellite fly Miltogramma punctata which parasitises the nest burrows of Colletes mining bees.
Nomada rufipes, the cuckoo bee association with the heather-foraging mining bee Andrena fuscipes, in Tresco Abbey Gardens, Scilly.
Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) visiting a classic Scillonian flower Agapanthus on St Martin's
Lots of leafcutter bee cut-outs on this shrubby Hypericum on Tresco, Scilly
Patchwork Leafcutter Bee (Megachile centuncularis) foraging at Perennial Sow-thistle, St Agnes, Scilly
The solitary wasp Gorytes laticinctus on St Mary's, Scilly. The first for Scilly was recorded in July 2025. Finding it again this year suggests it has established a population.
Two individuals of the migratory hoverfly Scaeva pyrastri, one only about half the size of the other. St Mary's, Scilly
Male of the Is of Scilly (& Channel Is) subspecies of Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria insula) with bright brown spots (cream-coloured in the mainland British form)
@dankaszeta.bsky.social @emily1collins.bsky.social Someone on this thread is blocking replies! Unfortunately there's no straightforward way to get to Bedgebury by public transport. I dont drive so when I occasionally do an event there, staff or volunteers living in TW have to help me out with a lift
There's one large patch of Field Bindweed on Tunbridge Wells Common #wildflowerhour
The three common thistles on Tunbridge Wells Common - Creeping Thistle, Spear Thistle, Marsh Thistle. #wildflowerhour
And my first local record of Marbled White, also on Tunbridge Wells Common today. These have been spreading inland in Kent from the Downs & the coast in recent years.
Pleased to see several male Pantaloon Bees (Dasypoda hirtipes) feeding at ragwort on Tunbridge Wells Common today. This is my 4th local site for a species that is spreading here.