Hedgerow Detective

I am sure a dragonfly was just playing with me! Danced around me for ages! I didn’t get a chance for many pics, but I felt like I had a pet for a minute there! What a moment!

It’s been full of drama out there today. As well as the tragedy of the gatekeeper there was also a bit of romance between the leaves! Forest bugs are a new find for me this week and today I captured them at it!

I had been thinking that I hadn’t seen any wasp spiders yet this year So, enter stage right, a perfect small specimen on a perfect zig-zaggy web. Why did I spot it? Because a gatekeeper butterfly just flew straight into that web and it pounced 😩

Very satisfying discovering a clutch of teeny yellow ladybirds where I had previously seen larvae. Have to wait for my ID session later to confirm they match up, but I’m prettayy, prettayyy, prettay sure!

I just nominated THE TREE COUNCIL #nominateACharity" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">climate.movementforgood.com/index.php?cn=2…

Each time I go bug detecting there’s a new star of the day! Today it seems to be all about green shield bug nymphs! They think they’re hiding, but I can see them! And for a bonus arachnid, the funnel web spider – there’s so many here this year.

I shall call this, spotted longhorn and gatekeeper day. We’ll ignore all the soldier beetles trying every chance to secure the continuation of their species, as that is every day right now.

Just cut up a whole bag of onions that were looking a bit iffy (I do hate food waste). As it turns out, they were 95% tickle-your-nose, scrunch-up-your-eyes-and-water-your-face usable and super-pungent! Now there’s three boxes in the freezer, I have a bit of recovery time 😭🤧

@BumblebeeTrust Amazing stuff 🥰

Is this bumblebee knitting? 🧶 This underside shot shows how female bumblebees collect pollen by brushing the fine grains out of their hair and into the pollen baskets on their hind legs 🧺 🔊 Sound up for that bee-utiful buzz! 🎥 Tom Luck

I’m lucky I live somewhere where a small community group and the council are working hard on our local meadow. It’s small, but it’s full of life right now.

As my hard drive is still backing up! I’m off out to stalk longhorns! They started appearing in force over the last few weeks. Here’s one from a while ago. instagram.com/p/CQ3RPSbrLlt/…

If you are wondering, “Who is this Hedgerow Detective?”, well spotted! Yes, today I changed my name here on an old X account from Wasdale Trotter. For those who recall… yes… I was that hedgehog… #revealed

It’s an exciting day at Hedgerow Detective HQ… a new external hard drive has arrived! It’s been a long time coming, but now I can breathe a sigh of relief as I further back up my burgeoning archive of images. But while my computer is busy doing that, my attention turns to X…

Help more of us lovely #hedgehogs survive through the winter #BeTheirAmbulance

Almost there little hoggie! 💕

@WigglySnouts @RobThomas14 @CardiffUCU I’m ready! Let’s buddy up 🤣

@RobThomas14 @CardiffUCU I’d be in quarantine with @WasdaleTrotter lmao

@SpikesFood Def @dancinggecko needs a cute spiky friend 😊

As we anticipate our little spikey friends appearing out of hibernation in springtime, we are giving away a Spike's Starter Bundle to one hedgehog helper. To enter tag a friend who needs a cute spikey friend and like the post. #Competition ends first day of spring 20/03/2020

Found a #bumblebee stranded in the cold? Not sure what to do? Here's three questions you should ask before rescuing a bumblebee: ow.ly/Iklu50xTVFD Remember to never feed a bumblebee honey or brown sugar & always leave them outdoors to continue their lifecycle. #winter #bees