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Charlie Forrest-King

@c-forrest-king

🌿 Nature enthusiast | Nature reserves officer - The Wildlife Trust 🦑 | Transforming my garden into a wildlife haven 🐝 | Amateur photographer | Love baking | Crafts including crochet, needle and wet felting, watercolour | All views my own 🌿

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12.04.2025
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Latest posts by Charlie Forrest-King @c-forrest-king

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A warmer day today and feeling more like spring. Spotted a few Andrena bicolor males today, 04/03/2026. Staffordshire, Gentleshaw Common. #solitarybees #springishere @lisawilliams30.bsky.social Thanks for checking my ID 😁

04.03.2026 20:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@wild-dave.bsky.social Thank you 😊. I had looked at Quedius curtipennis but there were a few others that threw me off.

24.02.2026 20:21 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Found wandering across my garden just before we lost the light. I suspect a Rove beetle, possibly Quedius species?
Are the photos enough to be able to identify at all? Any help appreciated.
24/02/2026, Staffordshire

@wild-dave.bsky.social #gardenwildlife

24.02.2026 19:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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My 1st Elasmostethus interstinctus (Birch Shieldbug) in the garden today. 23/02/2026, Staffordshire. #shieldbug #gardennature #wildlifegardening

23.02.2026 18:50 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

The Cyphostethus tristriatus is lovely! Great pictures πŸ™‚

23.02.2026 18:44 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Some much needed sunshine yesterday at WWT Martin Mere.

Lots about including Whooper swans, cattle and great white egret, ruff and marsh harrier.

And it's always a treat to listen to the lapwings and watch them all take flight.

15.02.2026 12:15 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@lesevanshill.bsky.social Brilliant, thank you! Thought I'd check as its the first one I think i've seen, and it didn't seem to have many records close by from a quick look

12.02.2026 08:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)

Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)

Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)

Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)

Saw a few nice ladybirds on Monday, guessing as the weather was a little warmer.
- Eyed Ladybird (Anatis ocellata)
- Orange Ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)
- Staffordshire, 09/02/2026

11.02.2026 18:21 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Possible Acleris logiana? Lovely little moth, just fluttered infront of me. I have popped it on irecord.
-Staffordshire, 04/02/2026
@lesevanshill.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social

11.02.2026 18:13 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸͺ² Weevils! The UK boasts 600+ species, almost as many as birds! Join us on 13 Oct (7–8pm) for an entoLIVE with @markgurn.bsky.social to explore their ecology, habitats & quirky plant preferences. It is FREE!!! Don’t miss it! πŸ§ͺ 🌎

πŸ”— Sign up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1491232379...

05.09.2025 13:37 πŸ‘ 38 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 1
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The beautiful Platycheirus rosarum hoverfly, a few around at Doxey Marshes, #Staffs 02/08/25 @c-forrest-king.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social #Syrphidae #hoverfly

07.08.2025 13:30 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you Les πŸ™‚, will do.

22.06.2025 20:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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And the last two πŸ™‚. Thank you

22.06.2025 20:08 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Wondered if I could have help with an ID please if it is possible to tell?
I wondered about Crambus pascuella?

Each image is a different one from from my most recent moth trap.
Just working through the IDs of a few still before recording πŸ™‚

@lesevanshill.bsky.social @bc-westmids.bsky.social

22.06.2025 20:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you. I'm amazed it sat still for long enough!

21.06.2025 19:53 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Another stunning clearwing this week, this time whilst carrying out a survey. Welsh Clearwing (Synanthedon scoliaeformis). I love their iridescent scales!

Two came to lure - recorded
-Staffordshire 20/06/25

@bc-westmids.bsky.social
@savebutterflies.bsky.social

21.06.2025 18:14 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Definately worth an early morning in the garden before work this week. I got to see two beautiful Lunar Hornet Moths (Sesia bembeciformis)! One of my favourite mimics.

@bc-westmids.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social #mimics #ukmoths #gardenforwildlife

21.06.2025 18:04 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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There were plenty of Libellula quadrimaculata, Four-spotted Chaser dragonflies at #RSPBArne 28/05/25 and this one posed nicely for me @britishdragonflies.bsky.social #dragonfly #Odonata

09.06.2025 20:16 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Beautiful sunny day, and a treat to have this Beautiful demoiselle (Calopteryx virgo) land infront of me.

#damselfly #naturewalk #naturetherapy

11.06.2025 18:11 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The garden meadow and hedge are looking amazing 😍 Lovely to come home to after a busy day.

#wildlifegardening #plantwildflowers

02.06.2025 17:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you πŸ™‚

28.05.2025 17:07 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Poster: Ten steps to carry out a FIT Count
1. A FIT Count requires 10–15 minutes to enjoy watching and counting insects!
2. Take part on any dayΒ with good weatherΒ from 1 April to 30 September.
3. "Good weather" is dry, and with temperature at least 13Β°C in sunny conditions, or at least 15Β°C when cloudy.
4. Choose just one type of flower as your target flower – use a FIT Count target flower if you can, or choose any other flower as the target.
5. Mark out a 50 Γ— 50 cm patch containing your target.
6. Count how many individual target flowers are in your patch.
7. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and countΒ allΒ insects thatΒ touch (land or are already sitting)Β theΒ target flowers.
8. Identify the insects into their broad groups (bumblebees, hoverflies etc.) – any that you don't recognise should be counted as "other insects".
9. Answer some simple habitat and weather questions.
10. Don't forget to send in your results via our FIT Count app or website recording form (even if your result is zero insects!).

Full details on the POMS website and FIT Count app.

Poster: Ten steps to carry out a FIT Count 1. A FIT Count requires 10–15 minutes to enjoy watching and counting insects! 2. Take part on any dayΒ with good weatherΒ from 1 April to 30 September. 3. "Good weather" is dry, and with temperature at least 13Β°C in sunny conditions, or at least 15Β°C when cloudy. 4. Choose just one type of flower as your target flower – use a FIT Count target flower if you can, or choose any other flower as the target. 5. Mark out a 50 Γ— 50 cm patch containing your target. 6. Count how many individual target flowers are in your patch. 7. Set a timer for 10 minutes, and countΒ allΒ insects thatΒ touch (land or are already sitting)Β theΒ target flowers. 8. Identify the insects into their broad groups (bumblebees, hoverflies etc.) – any that you don't recognise should be counted as "other insects". 9. Answer some simple habitat and weather questions. 10. Don't forget to send in your results via our FIT Count app or website recording form (even if your result is zero insects!). Full details on the POMS website and FIT Count app.

The new FIT Count season is nearly here πŸŽ‰πŸŽ†πŸ‘ From 1st April onwards, when weather is good, enjoy spending 10 minutes counting the insects that visit flowers - wherever you can find flowers, and as often as you wish, to help monitor #pollinators. Full details on our website ukpoms.org.uk/fit-counts

21.03.2025 15:04 πŸ‘ 47 πŸ” 33 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 4
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Spotted in the garden, a type of Tephritidae fly I think... Beautiful wing patterns.
Staffordshire - 23/05/2025

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @lisawilliams30.bsky.social

24.05.2025 13:31 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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This was my first Green Tortoise beetle (Cassida viridis). As amazing as i had hoped, and especially well camouflaged!

I'm still working through putting up some City nature challenge images.
- Staffordshire 27/04/25

17.05.2025 18:49 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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I love seeing these Red-and-black Froghoppers (Cercopis vulnerata).

Had taken my smaller lens out to practice with, and pretty pleased with this photo.
Hopwas quarry
04/05/2025

10.05.2025 21:23 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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A Small Yellow Underwing, Panemeria tenebrata, seen at Hopwas Quarry, #Staffs 04/05/25 @bc-westmids.bsky.social #Lepidoptera #moth

10.05.2025 19:35 πŸ‘ 33 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The garden is coming to life! I spotted this Mottled Umber (Erannis defoliaria) munching on our Saskatoon berry whilst watering this evening.

They like a lot of different plants that we have, so hopefully we will still get some tasty berries to eat!

08.05.2025 18:31 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Haha! I was just looking this up! Very cool! Lovely pictures :)

05.05.2025 15:35 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) sitting on a leaf with wings closed.

Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines) sitting on a leaf with wings closed.

Great day at Hopwas Quarry yesterday. Lucky to have a close up view of this beautiful Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines).
04/05/2025

@lisawilliams30.bsky.social @nickmott7.bsky.social

05.05.2025 15:15 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@c-forrest-king.bsky.social @nickmott7.bsky.social

04.05.2025 19:19 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0