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+--- Thread: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge (/showthread.php?tid=2454)
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Small chilli - 17-03-2026
(17-03-2026, 09:45 AM)JJB Wrote: Just looking at oil beetles. They predate on solitary mining bees, I'm not sure i like them any more.I didn’t know that. But it’s nature and it’s incredible beautiful & cruel all at the same time. I’m learning a lot doing this daily challenge through research. Thanks for starting this Veggie.
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Veggie - 17-03-2026
A bird - Goldfinch
Butterfly/moth - Scarlet Tiger Moth caterpillar on the comfrey.
Another - almost saw a mole - well, I saw a molehill growing in size!
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Small chilli - 17-03-2026
Nothing today
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - JJB - 18-03-2026
A brimstone butterfly just winged its way past the bedroom window.
Robin on the feed station
One for tomorrow - 2 Peacock butterflies swirling in the sun
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Small chilli - 18-03-2026
Bird - dunnock
Moth - striped twin-spotted carpet . I think [attachment=8752]
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Veggie - 18-03-2026
Bird - Wren.
Butterfly - saw a yellow one but not sure what it was so not claiming it!
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Small chilli - 19-03-2026
A Bird - stonechat
A Butterfly or Moth (incuding caterpillar, chrysalis and imago)
A Bee or Wasp - bilberry bumblebee ( hoping for a confirmation on this ID)
A Mollusc
An insect or spider
Another living creature - slow worm
[attachment=8754] [attachment=8755]
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Veggie - 19-03-2026
Looks like a Bilberry bee but I'm no expert! It seems a bit early for it to be out of hibernation though, according to https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/learn-about-bumblebees/species-guide/bilberry-bumblebee/
Is there anyway you can confirm its identity - as it seems to be rare, though maybe not in your part of the UK.
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Small chilli - 19-03-2026
(19-03-2026, 08:33 PM)Veggie Wrote: Looks like a Bilberry bee but I'm no expert! It seems a bit early for it to be out of hibernation though, according to https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/learn-about-bumblebees/species-guide/bilberry-bumblebee/That’s exactly the conclusion I came to. I think it a bilberry bumblebee, but it’s a bit early and not here according to the bumblebee conservation. I did message them . Unsurprisingly got an automated reply saying they don’t have the manpower to reply to every ID request. Which I’m not surprised about at all. They probably get hundreds a day and most quit pointless ones ( sorry to be harsh/ cynical ).
Is there anyway you can confirm its identity - as it seems to be rare, though maybe not in your part of the UK.
I’ve ask a local who does lots of work with insect surveys and things. She’s not got back to me yet. I might post it on the bumblebee conservation fb page see if anything comes from that.
RE: I-SPY Wildlife - A 6 a Day Challenge - Veggie - 19-03-2026
Yes, you might get a response on their FB page. I hope you're right!
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/bees-and-wasps/bilberry-bumblebee