Last week I was exploring the area around the Abernethy Forest, Scotland. My main target was finding Bumblebee Robberfly. A truly magnificent species. Dr Erica McAlister Steven Falk

A small selection of some other nice flies seen in the Speyside Area area last week. Sericomyia lappona, Common Awl Robberfly and Northern Silver-Stiletto. Dr Erica McAlister

Small numbers of Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary seen in Speyside last week.

This morning I was exploring Thursley Common, Surrey, for a species that I had wanted to see for many years, Heath Tiger Beetle. In the end I found several of this stunning and rare beetle. #beetles

Really good numbers of Mottled Bee-fly at Thursley Common this morning. A really smart and attractive insect.

Bee-wolf was very numerous on Thursley Common this morning, with many carrying prey to their burrows.

Good to see the differences between the Lesser and Vagrant Emperors in similar photographic situations and conditions SuffolkWildlifeTrust

Male Lesser Emperor from New Hythe, Kent at the weekend. NEW photos @ marcheath.blogspot.com. British Dragonfly Society BDS Scotland The British Nature Guide British Wildlife Mag Dave Smallshire Adrian Parr BBC Springwatch #Teamdragonfly

A hot slog round New Hythe today was rewarded with a massive count of no less than 58 Lesser Emperors!

2/3 Was especially keen to see the Pied-winged Robberfly Pamponerus germanicus, a speciality of large western dunes. Success! (male & female here 1, 2). Also saw two more large robberflies, Philonicus albiceps and Dysmachus trigonus (3 & 4). Leopards of the fly world.

Found this male Phasia hemiptera at Aston Rowant, Oxon this morning. A very smart and attractive fly.

Mating pairs of both Downland Robberfly (Machimus rusticus) and Kite-tailed Robberfly (Tolmerus atricapillus) at Aston Rowant NNR yesterday morning.

I was really pleased to find a small population of Large Scabious Mining Bee at Homefield Wood, Bucks late yesterday afternoon. The first time I've seen them at this site. Steven Falk

Thanks to an excellent find by Graham a few days ago, I went to Amersham flood meadows today and found at least 6 Scarce Blue-tailed Damselflies, incl several of the beautiful orange form aurantiaca. Only the second record for Bucks. British Dragonfly Society

Violet helleborine seen in full flower at Hockeridge Wood on Friday Chiltern Society BSBI: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland #wildflowerhour

Good numbers of Irish Lady's tresses orchids in local wet meadow. #wildflowerhour

I spent this morning at Denbies Hillside, Surrey. Good numbers of Silver-Spotted Skippers on the wing, plus Adonis & Chalk-Hill Blues.

A couple of Hornet Robberflies at Denbies Hillside, Surrey early afternoon today. Always a joy to see these spectacular and fearsome looking insects.

Another great nesting season for the Holkham Spoonbills, 41 pairs averaging 2 juveniles per pair. It's now the 15th year of nesting, and in that time some 748 juveniles have fledged. Been a privilege and a joy to have monitored them there since they began prospecting in 2004 !

They're back 🦗 We've helped unleash a small army (5k!) of rare large marsh grasshoppers across Norfolk, and they're thriving! Last hatched in the wild in Norfolk in 1939, they are now breeding and creating sustainable populations 🙌