Robin Parker
@thegreatskua.bsky.social
š¤ 306
š„ 232
š 172
Insects, birds & plants mainly. Somerset, UK
One of our fabulous Thick-headed flies, Conops quadrifasciatus at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning.
#bugsky
about 22 hours ago
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The impressively hairy beetle Lagria hirta in our garden in Taunton this morning, with a handful of mite passengers.
#bugsky
8 days ago
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I saw this moth on our outside kitchen window in Taunton this morning & managed a phone snap before it flew off. Iām not much of a moth-er, but wonder if anyone could confirm it to be a male Psyche casta (Common Bagworm)? Fabulous fern-like antennae.
#teammoth
#bugsky
about 1 month ago
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A fantastic Horsefly from the Somerset Levels on Monday. The eyes have it.
#bugsky
#ukwildlife
about 2 months ago
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There were good numbers of Black Colonel Soldierflies (Odontomyia tigrina) at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels today, but the star of the show was a female Ornate Brigadier (Odontomyia ornata).
@uk-soldierflies.bsky.social
#bugsky
about 2 months ago
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A stiff breeze in Taunton today but there was a good variety of insects in sheltered spots including Cantharis nigricans (Soldier Beetle), Tenthredo temula (sawfly), Dioctria atricapilla (Robberfly) & the hoverfly Cheilosia illustrata.
#bugsky
about 2 months ago
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9
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A couple of striking black & yellow wasp imitators (vaguely) from Longrun Meadow in Taunton today: the Longhorn beetle Clytus arietis, and the hoverfly Chrysotoxum cautum.
#bugsky
#beetles
about 2 months ago
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I was delighted to find a Meligramma trianguliferum (Triangle-spotted Roundtail) along the River Tone in Taunton today, only my second ever sighting of this fairly scarce hoverfly. Fortunately, it tends to rest with wings spread, greatly aiding ease of identification.
#bugsky
#hoverflies
2 months ago
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A male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) taking a brief pause from his frenetic pursuit of females in the Taunton sun yesterday.
#bugsky
3 months ago
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Itās always fun to see a new species, and this Melangyna cincta hoverfly was a first for me, alongside a wooded stream in Taunton today.
#bugsky
3 months ago
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A female Brimstone at Netherclay Community Woodland in Taunton today. Greenish-white rather than the lemon-yellow of the male, and much more difficult to spot at rest in my experience!
#butterflies
#bugsky
3 months ago
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I saw two of my favourite Spring bees in the Taunton sun today: Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena fulva) and Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria).
#bugsky
3 months ago
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Saw my first longhorn beetles of the year in Taunton today, with a couple of Phytoecia cylindrica (Umbellifer Longhorn Beetle). Very early (over 3 weeks earlier than last year), like much else Iāve seen this Spring.
#bugsky
3 months ago
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The Blackthorn bushes were looking blooming lovely at Netherclay Community Woodland in Taunton today. Lots of Eristalis pertinax and Syrphus torvus Hoverflies were taking advantage in the rare Spring sunshine here.
#bugsky
4 months ago
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I came across a decent assemblage of Jelly Ear fungus at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning, not a species I encounter very often.
5 months ago
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Poor phone footage admittedly, but the clear, persistent piping drew my attention to this Water Rail moving smartly through the canal-side vegetation near Bathpool in Taunton today.
#ukbirding
loading . . .
6 months ago
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A mobile Yellow-browed Warbler was working the trees along the path between Silk Mills Park & Ride and the western end of the lake at Roughmoor this morning. Associating loosely with two Chiffchaff.
#somersetbirding
6 months ago
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Patient and majestic, a statuesque Grey Heron at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning.
#ukbirding
8 months ago
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The Sentinel. A Cormorant surveys the scene at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning.
#ukbirding
8 months ago
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Still plenty of insect action at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels this morning: Eupeodes latifasciatus hoverfly, Anthocomoys rufus beetle, 22-spot Ladybird & Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
#bugsky
9 months ago
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Itās always a joy to see a Stoat, even if only very briefly. This one bounced across a path at RSPB Greylake in the Somerset Levels this morning & I managed just a single photo before it disappeared into the vegetation.
#ukwildlife
9 months ago
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I was surprised to see a European Hornet (Vespa crabro) resting on a pair of jeans pegged to the washing line earlier this afternoon. Unconcerned by my presence, after about 10 minutes, she excreted, waggled her abdomen for a few seconds and then flew off.
#bugsky
9 months ago
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Saw only my second ever Didea fasciata (Pale-knobbed Lucent) hoverfly, in Taunton this morning, with the distinctive āski goggleā markings on the abdomen.
#bugsky
9 months ago
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Fortunately, I caught this Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum) moving from the corner of my eye as I walked past it today, the camouflage against the plant stem is terrific.
#bugsky
9 months ago
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10
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European Hornet (Vespa Crabro) and Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) on the same patch of ivy in Taunton today. The mimicry of the hoverfly is much more effective when it is flying.
9 months ago
1
15
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A Bedeguar Gall, aka Robinās Pincushion on a Dog Rose stem, which is caused by the larvae of Dipoloepis rosae, a tiny gall wasp - at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today.
10 months ago
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A Tachina fera fly nectaring on Devils-bit Scabious at Ash Priors Common near Taunton today.
#bugsky
10 months ago
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One of my favourite hoverflies, a Dasysyrphus albostriatus (Stripe-backed Fleckwing), feeding on a potted Dahlia on our patio in Taunton today.
#bugsky
10 months ago
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Had a couple of insect ālifersā today, with a Bright Four-spined Legionnaire soldierfly (Chorisops nagatomii) in the dining room, and an Eristalinus aeneus hoverfly on our Taunton patio (normally a coastal species).
#bugsky
#diptera
āŖ@uk-soldierflies.bsky.socialā¬
10 months ago
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The Conopid fly Physocephala rufipes (Waisted Bee-grabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning.
#bugsky
#diptera
11 months ago
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It was good to see this Eristalinus sepulchralis hoverfly at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning, with its fabulous spotted eyes - the first one Iāve seen away from the Somerset Levels.
#bugsky
12 months ago
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One of the Gasteruption species of Carrot Wasp nectaring on Fennel in our garden today, another stunning example of insect architecture.
#bugsky
#diptera
12 months ago
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Pleased to see a couple of Conops quadrifasciatus (Four-banded Beegrabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today, fabulous insects.
#bugsky
#diptera
12 months ago
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A stunning male Horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis possibly) at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels yesterday. Those eyesā¦
#bugsky
#diptera
12 months ago
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A female Leafcutter Bee in action in our garden in Taunton today.
#bugsky
about 1 year ago
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15
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āArrangement in Yellow and Blackā. Two fine examples from Taunton yesterday: Large Spearhorn hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) and Spotted Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata).
#bugsky
about 1 year ago
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Pleased to record two new species in our Taunton garden today: Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) and Pied Plumehorn hoverfly (Volucella pellucens).
#bugsky
#ukwildlife
about 1 year ago
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15
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Some cracking insects at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels today: Stratiomys singularior (Flecked General soldierfly), Volucella bombylans hovefly, Fredegunda diluta (Ichneumon wasp) & Cantharis fusca (Soldier beetle).
#bugsky
@uk-soldierflies.bsky.social
about 1 year ago
1
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I was fortunate to get a side view of this female Anasimyia lineata (Snouted Duckfly) hoverfly at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning without disturbing it, showing the extraordinary protruding mouth to good effect.
#bugsky
about 1 year ago
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A couple of smart insects seen down a quiet lane in Taunton today: a male Chrysotoxum cautum hoverfly (my first ever) and a smart male Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa).
#bugsky
@uk-soldierflies.bsky.social
about 1 year ago
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Some good Soldierfly action at Greylake RSPB reserve on the Somerset Levels today, with this beautiful fresh Ornate Brigadier (Odontomyia ornata) and plenty of Black Colonels (Odontomyia tigrina).
#bugsky
@uk-soldierflies.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
about 1 year ago
1
21
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A brilliant day for
#longhornbeetles
at Greylake RSPB reserve on the Somerset Levels today. Names in the Alt text.
#bugsky
#ukwildlife
@theponker.bsky.social
about 1 year ago
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22
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By the sound coming over my shoulder I thought a helicopter was coming to land in the garden but it was only this beautiful Rose Chafer.
#bugsky
about 1 year ago
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I spent a mesmerising 5 minutes watching this Slow Worm weave sinuously through our lawn in Taunton today.
#ukwildlife
about 1 year ago
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Imagine my surprise when I drew back the bedroom curtains this morning to find this nightjar perched on the steps in the back garden of our house in suburban Taunton. I managed to get a solitary photo through the window before it was disturbed & flew off.
#somersetbirding
#ukwildlife
about 1 year ago
4
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It seemed to be a green beetle day in Taunton today, with my first yearly sightings of Oedemera nobilis and a pair of Malachius bipustulatus, and what I think is the weevil Polydrusus formosus.
#bugsky
about 1 year ago
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15
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Some decent insects seen during a plod round Longrun Meadow/Roughmoor in Taunton today: beetles Hazel Leaf-roller & my 1st Soldier Beetle of the year, Cantharis rustica; moths Common Tubic & Common Carpet.
#bugsky
#mothsmatter
about 1 year ago
1
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The warm weather in Taunton today led to sightings of my first Odonata this year, with a Beautiful Demoiselle and a smart-looking Broad-bodied Chaser.
#bugsky
@britishdragonflies.bsky.social
about 1 year ago
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12
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A day-flying Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) looking mighty fine in Taunton this afternoon.
#mothsmatter
about 1 year ago
1
21
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8 species of warbler singing at a wet & windy Roughmoor in Taunton this morning. Highlight was this reeling Grasshopper Warbler. The others: Sedge, Reed, Willow, Cettiās, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Chiffchaff.
#somersetbirding
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about 1 year ago
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18
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