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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

We have just reprinted Alison Uren's fabulous The Wildlife of the Avalon Marshes - the book sold out in less than a year but you can now order your copy - visit the Naturebureau bookshop

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We're are off to the AES Annual Exhibition at Kempton Park this Saturday 26 Sept with a range of our most recent publications including our acclaimed Flies of Britain & Ireland @savebutterflies.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The Fenland Flora by Owen Mountford & Jon Graham (2-vol set) is soon to go to print. It provides a unique account of the current status of wild plants in Fenland. Pre-pub offer now on - visit naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop & SAVE £25 on published price @bsbibotany.bsky.social @plantlifeuk.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Our Photographic Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z has received widespread critical acclaim as a groundbreaking, long-overdue field guide. It's the first popular, widely accessible guide to British & Irish flies since 1951 @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Male Flecked General (Stratiomys singularior) seen on umbellifers at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor (a top site for soldierflies in Britain), Cothill at the weekend. Discover more in our flyble bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Wasp Plumehorn Volucella inanis, a convincing wasp mimic hoverfly at Catcott NR, Somerset. Females can often be seen near wasp nests. The larvae develop in the nests. Discover the world of flies in our flyble bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Great summer for migrant moths in Britain - Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria) and Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatum) seen in good numbers is our garden in Oxford @upperthames.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Good to see the rare Yellow Loosestrife Bee (Macropis europaea) at Catcott Nature Reserve on the Somerset Levels & Moors last week @somersetwt.bsky.social @somersetlevels.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Off to Westhay Moor on the Somerset Levels tomorrow. Should see Hairy-legged Horseflies (Hybomitra bimaculata) sitting around on fences - check out the horseflies in our Flies of Britain & Ireland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @somersetwt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Look out for the Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), Britain's largest hoverfly, at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit. It flies from May–November & is often seen on marjormam, scabious & ivy flowers - find our more in our best-selling #flyble bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Lots of Jersey Tiger moths (Euplagia quadripunctata) coming to light in our garden in Oxford last night @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @kitenet.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Off to the Pyrenees - should see Ectophasia crassipennis Twist-winged Parasite Fly. The male (left) is impressive but you don't have to go that far to see it. It was found in Britain in 2019 bit.ly/4dqQI8Z & is now widespread in southern counties @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Our 'flyble' A photographic guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z is getting great reviews - most of the featured species have been given common names (AI review gets this wrong sometimes) making the book accessible to all @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Looking for soldierflies yesterday at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor (Cothill Fens) and was pleased to see females of the rare Orange-horned Green Colonel (Odontomyia angulata) @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

The day-flying Six-belted Clearwing moth Bembecia ichneumoniformis seen at eastern end of Greenham Common today - lots of its foodplant bird's-foot-trefoil in flower @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

A tiny parasite fly (tachinid) a male Bishop's-mitre Parasite Fly (Cistogaster globosa) seen at Chilswell Valley, nr Oxford – female is all black. Its host, Bishop's Mitre Shieldbug is recorded there. Find out more in our 'flyble' bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Two large hoverflies seen on a lunchtime walk at BBOWT's Bowdown Woods, nr Newbury Volucella inflata Orange-belted Plumehorn & Volucella pellucens Pied Plumehorn. Check out our flyble bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @wildlifekate.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The rare Clubbed General soldierfly (Stratiomys chamaeleon) seen at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor. Find out more about soldierflies & other fabulous flies with our 'flyble' bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Most often seen in the north of England, Mountain Melick (Melica nutans) is an attractive grass that can be seen along the old railway line path in the Wyre Forest, Worcs, alongside its close relative the much more common Wood Melick (Melica uniflora) @worcswt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Leading a walk for the West Oxfordshire Field Club in the wonderful Wyre Forest – the sun came out on Tuesday and so did the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillaries @worcswt.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @stevenfalk17.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Off to lead walks in the Wyre Forest, nr Bewdley at the weekend - should see Dippers along the Dowles Brook. Great for wildflowers and insects (Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Logjammer Hoverfly) too @worcswt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Look out for these tiny flies lurking around your bee hotel. Known as the Houdini Fly Cacoxenus indagator it lays an egg in a sealed mason bee tube, then escapes leaving its egg to develop into a cleptoparitic larva. Find out more here bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The Green Forest Fly Caliprobola sp;eciosa, a large & rare hoverfly - one of the gems of the New Forest where it can be seen around the base of old trees & stumps. Get into the world of flies with our 'flyble' bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

SPECIAL OFFER – Buy our best-selling Flies of Britain & Ireland and our Insects of Britain & Ireland TOGETHER and SAVE £15. Order here naturebureau.co.uk/flies-and-insects-bundle-offer The offer ends 30 June 2026 @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula) seen in our garden in Oxford on Aquilegia last week. We now see in most years now in our garden, so it's definitely becoming established @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Tiny matt black male Callomyia amoena flat-footed fly (note the orange halteres) seen at BBOWT's Parsonage Moor, Cothill nr Abingdon (see our flies book bit.ly/4dqQI8Z) The female has an orange-banded abdomen & silvery patches on the thorax @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Water Germander (Teucrium scordium), one of the special Fenland plants, features in The Fenland Flora by Owen Mountford & Jon Graham to be published this Autumn. Pre-pub offer now on, visit naturebureau.co.uk/bookshop & SAVE £25 on published price. Offer ends 31 Oct 2026 @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

The tiny (3,5mm long) Tachypeza nubila seen at BBOWT's Bowdown Woods today, a tricky fly to photograph not just because it's tiny – it races up & down tree trunks only pausing momentarily @bbowt.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social - find out more in our 'flyble' bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

A bumblebee-mimic hoverfly Matsumyia berberina seen at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit last week before the weather turned damp and colder. One of the many hoverflies featured in our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Lots of insects this morning at BBOWT's Dry Sandford Pit - the highlight was this Large Ocelot Epiphragma ocellare, a spectacular short-palped cranefly with highly patterned wings (featured in our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z) @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

One of Berkshire's rare plants Upright Chickweed (Moenchia erecta) grows in short turf at BBOWT's Greenham Common. In flower now, it's easy to overlook as it's very short, but the sharp-pointed glaucous leaves can be conspicuous @bbowt.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Stripe-backed Fleckwing Dasysyrphus albostriatus basking on a beech leaf at BBOWT's Chinnor Hill in the Chilterns. ID'd by the slanted yellow bars on its abdomen & the 2 grey stripes on the thorax. Check out our NEW #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

A beautiful sunny day brought out lots of dancing male Green Longhorn micromoths (Adela reaumurella) at BBOWT's Greenham Common this lunchtime. @upperthames.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social We were on the hunt for Green Haistreaks but were probably a little too early for them

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Check out the review in British Wildlife here bit.ly/4tlMckS for our recently published #BestFlyBook A Photographic Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland @rdimond.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This distinctive & attractive hoverfly Leucozona lucorum was seen visiting Ramsons flowers at BBOWT's Whitecross Green Wood on the Bucks/Oxfordshire border. Check out the hoverflies in our NEW #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Drifts of Ramsons in woodland is unmistakable but look closer & you might spot a male Ramsons Hoverfly Portevinia maculata (top right) basking on a leaf the female (bottom) is often hidden amongst the plants where she lays her eggs @worcswt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social bit.ly/4dqOI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A few Pasqueflowers (Pulsatilla vulgaris) were in flower deep in the Downs nr Blewbury in Oxfordshire. This pair were flowering on a steep slope just outside a fenced patch @bbowt.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

To bee or not to bee - these 2 hoverflies are brilliant bee mimics - Left: Cheilosia chrysocoma mimics Tawny Mining Bee. Right: Criorhina floccosa mimics Common Carder Bee @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social - see our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

The stunning male Microtendipes pedellus, a non-biting midge in the Chironomidae, can be seen in damp areas like this one on wild garlic in woodland along the Evenlode in West Oxon - See our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Out on a lunchbreak walk today at BBOWT's Bowdown Woods, nr Newbury – the Bluebells, Wood Anemones and Lesser Celandines were looking gorgeous in the sunshine @bbowt.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @bsbibotany.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

The male Silver Colonel is a stunning soldierfly of fens & marshes, this one seen at Rack Marsh nr Newbury, but you need to get the angle just right to capture its silvery abdomen. Look for it April-June #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Over 1300 fly species are featured in our #BestFlyBook – the new Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland, the most complete guide ever published. Order your copy here bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The delightful little green flowers of Moschatel (Adoxa moscatellina) are starting to flower in our woodlands. Its many other names include Town-hall-clock, but look out for it on Good Friday as it's also known as Good Friday Plant @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

Often seen in gardens, this Common Stripeback hoverfly (Helophilus pendulus) was attracted to the Marsh-marigolds in full flower in our garden pond @bbowt.bsky.social @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social Find out more about flies in our new #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Signs of Spring - my first sighting of a male Epistrophe eligans Spring Smoothtail hoverfly yesterday. Love its gold-tinted look. @bbowt.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social - Find out what other flies to look out for now in our NEW #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Nice to see a Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor) visiting primroses in our Oxford garden at the weekend. A few fresh Dark-edged Bee-flies (Bombylius major) were also seen @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Cheilosia pagana, a small black hoverfly, is one of our earliest hoverflies to be seen, flying from March-October. The female is identified by its large orange antennae. #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

At last spring is really here - saw my first Slow Worm of the year yesterday basking in the sunshine at BBOWT's Decoy Heath, nr Aldermaston @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @bbcspringwatch.bsky.social

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NatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

This beauty was spotted at BBOWT's Decoy Heath – a Green Parasite Fly Gymnocheta viridis. Males often bask on tree trunks @bbowt.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @stevenfalk.bsky.social See our #BestFlyBook bit.ly/4dqQI8Z

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