Ed Phillips

Well-done to you both!

I had one of those (or one very similar) and ended-up as a microbiologist!

Photograph on a bone found on the beach in Anglesey. Might be from a seabird of some sort.

Found on the beach in Anglesey at the weekend. A seabird sternum perhaps?

Macro photograph of an Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) queen on a garden flower.

A lovely fresh-looking queen Bombus pratorum (Early Bumblebee) in our #Staffs garden this morning. I think that what it is anyway! #bees #SocialBees

I had a Bombus pratorum queen in our #Staffs garden today; first I've seen this year.

Macro photograph of a Western Honey Bee in our Staffordshire garden.

First Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) that I've photographed this year. Lots active in our #Staffs garden today. #bees #SocialBees

Macro photograph of a Barkfly in garden leaf-litter.

Psocid (Barkfly) in garden leaf-litter this morning. #Staffs #garden #Psocid #Barkfly

Macro photograph of an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

An "elongate" springtail in garden leaf-litter this morning, just a few millimetres long. #staffs #collembola #mesofauna

We bought a pair of Felco secateurs several year ago Lucy. They are expensive but (in my mind), an excellent investment. You can get a special sharpening stone too. They do a range of weights and sizes, so check if you have smaller hands. Whatever you buy, good luck and safe pruning!

Announcing an exhibition of my still-life photography at the Rose Paterson Art Gallery at Weston Park. Will run from 27 March to 29 April. Parking and admission free. The Art Gallery is open daily from 11.00 to 16.00 hrs. Weston Park situated on the A5 near Shifnal, Shropshire.

Macro photograph of a globular springtail and an elongate springtail in garden leaf-litter.

I was photographing a globular springtail (Dicyrtomina saundersi) in the garden, when a juvenile "elongate" springtail came scurrying into view. Remarkably, they're both reasonably in focus with this single shot. Two for the price of one! #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photograph

Composite photograph of globular springtails found in a Staffordshire garden.

A selection of globular springtails found under fallen leaves on our garden lawn this morning. A Dicyrtomina species at the bottom and Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) and S. elegans at the top. #collembola #mesofauna #Staffs #macro #photography

Macro photograph of the globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi.

The globular springtail Dicyrtomina saundersi in our #Staffs garden this morning. Between 1-2 mm long. #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photography

A Fly Agaric mushroom photograph, with added Photoshop adjustments.

We're fortunate in having a few Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in our #Staffs garden. Being a photographer, I couldn't resist a bit of additional Photoshopery on this shot! #macro #photography #shallowDoF

Close-up image of fungi growing on a Staffordshire garden lawn, possibly one of the Laccaria species.

More fungi from our front lawn today. I know very little about mushroom identification, but wondered whether this could be one of the Laccaria species (Deceivers)? #Staffs #fungi #macro #photography

Macro photograph of Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in a Staffordshire garden.

We have a nice selection of fungi on our front lawn, including Fly Agaric. #Staffs #macro #photography #fungi #mushrooms

I had to look-up "macrolabic", but I'd guessed from the photograph what it meant! Always more things to learn ...

Macro photograph of a barkfly in a Staffordshire garden.

My morning leaf-litter hunt didn't result in any springtail photographs today, but I did snap this little psocid (barkfly) that was under a Laurel leaf. #psocoptera #Staffs #garden #macro #photography

Macro photograph of a globular springtail in a Staffordshire garden.

The globular springtail Sminthurinus aureus (dark form) in the garden this morning. Very small (< 1 mm). #Staffs #collembola #springtail #LeafLitter #mesofauna #macro #photography

Yes; I struggle with wasps, even the social species! I'm a photographer though, not an entomologist, but I do like wasps and photograph them whenever they oblige (I don't generally take specimens).

Thank you Karl; I'll have a read-up!

Macro photograph of a tiny wasp found under a wet leaf in a Staffordshire garden.

I found a tiny little wasp (~2-3 mm) under a wet leaf on the lawn this morning (was looking for springtails actually). #WaspLove #Staffs #macro #photography

A social wasp worker collecting nesting material from a wooden post.

Still lots of social wasp workers collecting nesting material in our #Staffs garden. #WaspLove #macro #photography

I still-life image of a vintage brass jack; light-painted with torchlight.

I'm fortunate in knowing someone with a fine collection of vintage automobilia. He lets me borrow bits to photograph; here's a lovely old jack (apparently supplied with some early Rolls Royce and Bentley cars). #vintage #stilllife #torchlight

Macro photograph of a Field Digger Wasp leaving her nest hole.

Female Field Digger Wasp (Mellinus arvensis), leaving her nest hole in our #Staffs garden. They're out hunting early today! #WaspLove #macro #photography

Macro photograph of the globular springtail Sminthurinus elegans.

A globular springtail - Sminthurinus elegans - under a fallen Beech leaf in the garden this morning. I'm a bit out of practice photographing things this small (~0.5mm) but will improve as the damper weather progresses! #collembola #mesofauna #macro #photography #Staffs

Macro photograph of a tiny wasp with an even tinier parasitic mite on it.

Nice and damp in the garden this morning so thought I'd do a little springtail hunting. Didn't find many, but DID find this tiny (~2mm) wasp with a minuscule parasitic mite on it! #wasplove #acari #Staffs #parasitism #macro #photography

Composite photograph of various insects visiting garden Ivy flowers.

When it brightened-up a bit, I spent some time at the garden Ivy to see what visited; lots of things (naturally)! Just a reminder that if you really have to remove Ivy, please wait until it's finished flowering. #Staffs #biodiversity #pollinators #macro #photography

Macro photograph of an Ivy Bee on garden ivy flowers.

First Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) that I've seen in our #Staffs garden this year; a male. Lots of other invertebrates on the Ivy too, showing what in important resource it is. #bees #SolitaryBees #pollination #macro #photograph #biodiversity

Light-painted still-life photography featuring dry flowers and garden tools.

Was having a tidy-up in the garden shed yesterday, so thought I'd do a bit of still-life photography. #photography #stilllife #still-life #vintage #flowers #dried