Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea) at Priston, near Bath. Adults and larvae both eat other insects. The larvae live under bark - I photographed one a few weeks ago (look back through my previous posts). This species is uncommon in western Britain, but I have found it a few times around Bath, usually around large deciduous tree stumps.
#Nature #Wildlife #Beetle #Insects #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BathNature

Some insects seen on the outskirts of Bath yesterday - Dark-edged Bee-fly, Dotted Bee-fly, Holly Blue and Peacock butterflies.
#Nature #Wildlife #Insects #Butterflies #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BathNature

A very muddy Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus) I found under a stone in Priston, near #Bath #Somerset #UK.
#Nature #Wildlife #BathNature #Beetle #Insect #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography

My Robin friend Little Mate singing this afternoon. The most important thing to a Robin is its territory, and he keeps it by singing regularly around the boundaries of it in order to let all the other Robins know that it belon gs to him. Meanwhile, I have seen his mate Willow searching for potential nesting sites in the territory.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

A surprising find today - the larva of a Black-headed Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea), under the bark of a log in a log pile at Newton St Loe, near #Bath today. The beetle is widespread, but not common. I have only ever found 3 adults before. The larva can be told from the more common Red-headed Cardinal by the absence of lateral teeth of the spines at the rear. I'm very pleased with this find! #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #ukwildlife #bathnature #insect #beetle

My #Robin friend Little Mate taking a snack this evening. We had a good chat and then he had his very important singing to do.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

Goldcrest - the smallest bird in Britain (along with the similar Firecrest). I watched this tiny bird foraging in a willow tree for a good 20 minutes. They rarely ever stay still, so photographing them is a real challenge, especially on a cloudy February day. I've never noticed their orange feet before.
In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife #birdphotography

My Robin friend Little Mate singing today. Nesting season is not far off! In #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife

My Robin friend Little Mate today. He's very chatty at the moment. Breeding season isn't far off, and he's spending most of his time singing, chasing off rivals and turning down potential mates - he already has one and seems happy with her. In #Bath #Somerset #UK. #nature #wildlife #ukwildlife #bathnature #bird #ukwildlife #birds

Scarlet Elf Cup, brightening up the woodland floors around Newton St Loe right now. Near #Bath #Somerset #UK
#nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #ukwildlife #bathnature #fungi #mushroom