Mary-Beth 🐝
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birderbee.bsky.social
Mary-Beth 🐝
@birderbee.bsky.social
Personal account • Mostly bees, local birding & my experience of breast cancer in my 30s • Environmental Science mature student with the OU • Views & photos my own • Enthusiast, not expert! • Leeds, West Yorkshire 📷 instagram.com/birder_bee #WomenInSTEM
Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrulus) in Leeds, UK. Dec 2023.

I've never shared this photo until now because the birds were in almost full silhouette. These days I'm feeling more confident with using Adobe, so here's the result of some relatively minor & very amateur editing. I hope you like it!
November 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM
5 years ago vs. now 🙏 #fuckcancer
November 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
*Goodbye Horses by Q Lazzarus plays softly in the background*
November 18, 2025 at 9:50 PM
It's been too long since I finished a #crossstitch project (waaaaah I am a slug 🫠) but I love receiving photos of my finished pieces in their new homes.

Here's one I stitched a couple of years ago for my sweet friend Dora, inspired by her very handsome boy, Plum 💛
November 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
URGH NOVEMBER. I MISS THE BEES 😭

Here's a beautiful Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris, queen) having a good groom between feeding in my garden this summer 🐝❤️
November 11, 2025 at 10:43 PM
A mid-hibernation appearance for a quick snack 🦔

Sound on for lovely crunching! 🥰

#hedgehog #europeanhedgehog #Erinaceuseuropaeus #ukwildlife #wildhedgehog #hedgehogsofbluesky
November 4, 2025 at 7:21 PM
🍂🍁 Autumn days on campus @universityofleeds.bsky.social 🍁🍂
October 23, 2025 at 11:21 AM
One of my favourite photos from this summer 🥰

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula, male) photographed from my hotel balcony in Oban, Scotland. July 2025.

A perfect Scottish peach! 🍑

#bullfinch #pyrrhulapyrrhula
October 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Lovely morning at RSPB St Aidan's with @leedsbirder.bsky.social. This Hobby (Falco subbuteo) hawking for dragonflies and hirundines over our heads was certainly a highlight 🤩
September 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I have a HEDGEHOG living in my garden and I'm absolutely smitten 💖🦔

Please note: These photos was taken at nighttime in near darkness. It just appears quite bright because the security light on my patio had briefly come on... (1/2)
September 4, 2025 at 12:49 PM
My constant source of hair inspo is '90s Leonardo DiCaprio and I make no apologies for it.
June 25, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Juvenile Peregrine Falcon tiercel, 'ZA6' (Falco peregrinus) photographed just after he fledged earlier this month on University of Leeds campus.

#peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #BirdsSeenIn2025 #birds @yorkswildlife.bsky.social @rspbengland.bsky.social 🪶
June 23, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I just love holding them 🥹
June 19, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Oh hi! Just had a pair of Osmia leaiana bees bangin' on my finger. How's your day been?
June 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It landed on me!
June 17, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Emperor Dragonfly (Anax imperator), @yorkswildlife.bsky.social Brockadale Nature Reserve 💚

@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
June 17, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) at Brockadale Nature Reserve ❤️

#redkite #milvusmilvus #birds #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025
June 16, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens).

A beauty! 💙

#goldenbloomedgreylonghornbeetle #agapanthiavillosoviridescens #longhornbeetle #beetles
June 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
When you're stuck in standstill traffic on your way to the nature reserve with @unsociable-lapwing.bsky.social so you may as well go look for mini-beasts in the motorway verge... 🔍😆

📷 by @wildfozzy.bsky.social

Thanks for a lovely day, you two! 💚
June 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Peonies envy, anyone? 😆
June 12, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Ruby-tailed Cuckoo Wasp (Chrysis ignita I think?) in the garden today.

Still trying to capture my ideal shot of one of these beautiful solitary wasps! They are tricky, but I am enjoying the challenge nonetheless. There are two currently overnighting in one my bee hotels.
June 11, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) in the (you guessed it!) garden, Leeds UK. June 2025.

Another 'macro' shot taken on my iPhone 7 Plus.

#gardenspider #europeangardenspider #crossspider #araneusdiadematus #ukspiders
June 11, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus, adult female) on campus @universityofleeds.bsky.social.

This is '7.H', queen of the Leeds skies, current resident female of the Parkinson building and mother to this year's 4 fledglings 🥰

#peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #birdphotography #birdsseenin2025
June 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
It was a pleasure to get these shots of 'ZA6', only a few hours after his maiden flight from the nest tray high up on the Parkinson building 😍 We watched him hatching only 5 weeks ago!

#peregrinefalcon #falcoperegrinus #birds 🪶
June 8, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Oedemera nobilis, female) in the garden, Leeds UK. May 2025.

Only the fellas have 'thick legs', in case you were wondering.

#thickleggedflowerbeetle #Oedemeranobilis
June 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM