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

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

Patient and majestic, a statuesque Grey Heron at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning. #ukbirding

The Sentinel. A Cormorant surveys the scene at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning. #ukbirding

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

It’s 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

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

Saw only my second ever Didea fasciata (Pale-knobbed Lucent) hoverfly, in Taunton this morning, with the distinctive “ski goggle” markings on the abdomen. #bugsky

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

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.

A Bedeguar Gall, aka Robin’s 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.

A Tachina fera fly nectaring on Devils-bit Scabious at Ash Priors Common near Taunton today. #bugsky

One of my favourite hoverflies, a Dasysyrphus albostriatus (Stripe-backed Fleckwing), feeding on a potted Dahlia on our patio in Taunton today. #bugsky

Had a couple of insect “lifers” 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 ‪@uk-soldierflies.bsky.social‬

The Conopid fly Physocephala rufipes (Waisted Bee-grabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning. #bugsky #diptera

It was good to see this Eristalinus sepulchralis hoverfly at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning, with its fabulous spotted eyes - the first one I’ve seen away from the Somerset Levels. #bugsky

One of the Gasteruption species of Carrot Wasp nectaring on Fennel in our garden today, another stunning example of insect architecture. #bugsky #diptera

Pleased to see a couple of Conops quadrifasciatus (Four-banded Beegrabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today, fabulous insects. #bugsky #diptera

A stunning male Horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis possibly) at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels yesterday. Those eyes… #bugsky #diptera

A female Leafcutter Bee in action in our garden in Taunton today. #bugsky

‘Arrangement in Yellow and Black’. Two fine examples from Taunton yesterday: Large Spearhorn hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) and Spotted Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata). #bugsky

Pleased to record two new species in our Taunton garden today: Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) and Pied Plumehorn hoverfly (Volucella pellucens). #bugsky #ukwildlife

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

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

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

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

A brilliant day for #longhornbeetles at Greylake RSPB reserve on the Somerset Levels today. Names in the Alt text. #bugsky #ukwildlife @theponker.bsky.social

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

I spent a mesmerising 5 minutes watching this Slow Worm weave sinuously through our lawn in Taunton today. #ukwildlife

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

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

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

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

A day-flying Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) looking mighty fine in Taunton this afternoon. #mothsmatter

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, Cetti’s, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Chiffchaff. #somersetbirding

The cryptic green and white patterning of a female Orange Tip butterfly shown to good effect in our garden today. #bugsky #butterflies

I was fortunate that this Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana) spread its wings when I stooped to take a photo today, allowing an unobscured view of the abdominal markings. #bugsky #ukwildlife

A new insect for me, Myopa testacea (Plain-winged Spring Beegrabber), seen in our garden in Taunton today. #bugsky #ukwildlife

Saw my first #longhornbeetle of the year today, Phytoecia cylindrica (Umbellifer Longhorn) on Cow Parsley by the river in Taunton today. #bugsky #ukwildlife @theponker.bsky.social

Presumably this is a fully black form of Melecta albifrons (Common Mourning Bee), seen in our garden in Taunton today. #bugsky #ukwildlife

An insect I’ve long hoped to encounter turned up in the garden today - Abia aenea/lonicera (Honeysuckle Sawfly agg.). #bugsky #ukwildlife

Epistrophe eligans at Roughmoor in Taunton today, a bright and shining gem of a Spring hoverfly. #bugsky #ukwildlife

Saw my 1st Helophilus pendulus hoverfly of the year in Taunton today, and a 3-winged Speckled Wood butterfly which has obviously had a traumatic start to its adult life - it was still managing to fly with alacrity though 💪 #bugsky

Saw my 1st Dotted Beefly (Bombylius discolor) of the year at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today - didn’t see a single one last year. At nearby Netherclay Community Woodland, a male Eristalis intricaria was the pick of the hoverflies seen, a decent bumblebee mimic. #beeflywatch #bugsky

A couple of hoverfly “lifers” for me today in Taunton: a male Eristalis similis, infrequently recorded in the UK so far; and a male Syrphus torvus with its distinctive hairy eyes. #bugsky #ukwildlife

Proper, warm sun in Taunton today & saw my first Dark-edged Beefly this year, always a Spring highlight. I was lucky to get a frontal photo which shows the forked tip to its long proboscis. #beeflywatch #bugsky

Howzat ! A splendid Mediterranean Spurge seen growing against the external boundary of Somerset County Cricket ground in Taunton this week. #wildflowerhour #GardenEscapes

A rather regal-looking Stock Dove on a favoured tree-top perch at French Weir in Taunton today. #ukbirding #birds

This male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) had a brief rest on a sunlit leaf between bouts of energetic flight searching for a mate in Taunton today. #bugsky

My 4th hoverfly species this year, with a male Eristalis pertinax at Roughmoor in Taunton today. #bugsky