Linda Yarrow 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇪🇺

[ian ballam @ianballam]

A species of Nomad Bee at Lytchett Bay 20/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Riponnensia splendens at #LytchettFields 22/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Think this is a Drab Elder Strider(Macrophya ribis) at Badbury Rings 22/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Another Rueppell's Globetail(Sphaerophoria rueppellii) with a better view of the yellow antenna , Lytchett Bay 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

My best Hoverfly of the year so far, Sphaerophoria loewi , note the black antenna, at Lytchett Bay 21/05/26 . A first record in the UK on @inaturalist and only 24th worldwide out of 323 million records. I've been told there's less than 20 records for UK in total

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Lejogaster tarsata at Lytchett Bay 18/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Pipiza austriaca at Badbury Rings 22/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Bare-winged Halfband(Melangyna umbellatarum) at #LytchettFields 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Fascinated with this European Hornet(Vespa crabro) with prey at #LytchettFields 22/05/26 , it was hanging from 1 leg whilst eating its prey. I didn't realise until it was featured on @BBCSpringwatch last week that they can use a sticky substance on their feet to help cling on!

[Ivysuckle💚(the garden reef)🍃 @ivysuckle]

Moss cushions which roll off the roof dry & come back to life after rain are quietly spectacular 💚🍃

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Common Red-legged Robberfly(Dioctria rufipes) at Badbury Rings 22/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

The nationally scarce Long-horned General(Stratiomys longicornis) is continuing its march westwards, formerly its range came as far west as Hampshire . This 1 from #LytchettFields was my 5th record , 1 in 2024, 2 in 2025 and 2 in 2026 so far

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

If ever there was a popular actor whose most famous role was diametrically opposite to his own life , surely it was Arnold Ridley. He became famous and very popular for playing Private Godfrey in the hugely popular tv series Dads Army. His character of Godfrey was elderly, doddery, kind, polite, mildly incontinent and a conscientious objector.
But Mr Ridley's life could not have been more different. Born in 1896 he tried to enlist at the outbreak of WW1 in 1914 but was turned away because of a hammer toe. But he was accepted by the Somerset Light infantry in 1915 and sent to the Western Front.

In the space of a year he saw much hand to hand fighting in the trenches He was stabbed in the groin with a bayonet and his legs were riddled with shrapnel. In 1916 at the Battle of the Somme his left hand was rendered forever almost unusable by another bayonet wound , at the same time he was smashed in the head by a German rifle butt which left a legacy of blackouts. He was then medically discharged that year.

He rejoined the army in 1939 as a 2nd Lt, his job was looking after journalists in France attached to the BEF, was evacuated on an overcrowded warship during Dunkirk operations from Boulougne. But by now his WW1 wounds were catching him up and he left the army on medical grounds in 1940.

He immediately joined the Home Guard in Caterham! He did of course go on to write The Ghost Train.

Arnold Ridley passed away in 1984. A true hero who gave so much to our country. R.I.P.

[ian ballam @ianballam]

A species of Blood Bee(Genus Sphecodes) at #LytchettFields 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Broad-banded Aphideater(Eupeodes latifasciatus) at #LytchettFields 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

One of my favorite groups of Hoverfly are the assorted families of Leafwalkers like this one from the Genus Xylota , the Orange-belted Hoverfly(Xylota segnis) at Lytchett Bay 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Probable Patchwork Leafcutter Bee(Megachile centuncularis) at #LytchettFields 21/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Pale Rhogogaster(Rhogogaster chlorosoma) at #LytchettFields 18/05/26

[ian ballam @ianballam]

Humped Orbweb Spider(Gibbaranea gibbosa) at #LytchettFields 22/05/26

[Pippa Ettore @pettore]

Born this day 8th June 1916.

PO. Kenneth William Mackenzie. (2nd left)
One of THE FEW.
https://t.co/BZwWhvtCvx

Awarded the DFC. AFC.
Wonderful PoW escape story in link above.
What a man!