Lynchcombe Steps

by Jeff Bevan · Published 21st May 2023 · Updated 28th May 2023

Hawthorn – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3205

The Lynchcombe nature reserve is covered in hawthorn blossom. Once again making this a magical time, here and across a lot of Somerset.

Hawthorn – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3199

The Lynchcombe nature reserve is owned and managed by the Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Pignut (Conopodium majus) – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3231

Closer to the ground was a sea of pignut flowers, and criss-crossing badger trails.

Badger Trail – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID IMG_4095

After the recent abundance of small holly blue butterflies, this week was the turn of the even smaller brown argus. They loved the stork’s bill flowers. These were growing all over the highest parts of the reserve. They were so distracted that it was easy to get lots of pictures.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Lynchcombe, Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_3653

It was a special treat to see this dotted bee-fly. Bee-flies are one of my favourites. I had a lot of fun photographing bee-flies with my kids when they were little. They are tricky to photograph as they are so fluffy that it is hard to get the whole of one in focus. That and they never seem to stop darting about.