Robin Parker

@thegreatskua

Insects, birds & plants mainly. Somerset, UK

235 Folgt309 Follower175 Posts

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Robin Parker@thegreatskua· 21d

I was fortunate to see two Brown Hairstreak butterflies at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today, with a female laying eggs on young Blackthorn, and a male seemingly nectaring at Bindweed. Only the second occasion that I’ve seen them. #bugsky #butterflies

Side view of a female Brown Hairstreak butterfly perched on a sunlit leaf.

Side view of a female Brown Hairstreak butterfly laying an egg at the base of a Blakthorn leaf-stem.

Side view of a male Brown Hairstreak butterfly at a Bindweed flower.

Another view of the male Brown Hairstreak butterfly at a Bindweed flower.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jul 27

Characteristic behaviour of Eristalis nemorum hoverflies, with males hovering above, and trying to attract the attention of, the female. The males eventually faced off, but the disinterested female left them to it and calmly flew to another flower. #bugsky

A female Eristalis nemorum hoverfly feeding on a yellow flower, with a male hovering above her trying to attract her attention.

A female Eristalis nemorum hoverfly feeding on a yellow flower, with 2 males now hovering above her.

The 2 male hoverflies facing off above the female.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jul 22

A day-flying Jersey Tiger moth (Euplagia quadripunctaria) feeding at Buddleia in Taunton this morning. #bugsky #teammoth

Overhead view of a Jersey Tiger moth feeding in small, violet Buddleia flowers. The moth has delta-shaped black wings with numerous creamy streaks.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jun 28

One of our fabulous Thick-headed flies, Conops quadrifasciatus at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning. #bugsky

Overhead view of a Conops quadrifasciatus fly feeding on a purple thistle flower. The fly has a wasp-like black & yellow-banded abdomen, and large black antennae.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jun 21

The impressively hairy beetle Lagria hirta in our garden in Taunton this morning, with a handful of mite passengers. #bugsky

Overhead view of a beetle with brown, and remarkably hairy, wing-cases, perched on the tip of a leaf. The beetle has a number of small, orange mites attached to the head & legs.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· May 27

I saw this moth on our outside kitchen window in Taunton this morning & managed a phone snap before it flew off. I’m 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

Overhead view of a small brown moth on a window pane, showing its wonderful fern-like antennae to good effect.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· May 14

A fantastic Horsefly from the Somerset Levels on Monday. The eyes have it. #bugsky #ukwildlife

Head on view of a Horsefly sitting on a wooden fence, showing here amazing green & purple eyes with 3 dark, horizontal bands across them.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· May 12

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

A male Black Colonel Soldierfly sitting on a sunlit grass blade.

A female Black Colonel Soldierfly sitting on a sunlit grass blade

A female Ornate Brigadier Soldierfly sitting on a sunlit Dock leaf

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· May 10

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

Cantharis nigricans (Soldier Beetle) sitting on a leaf, showing the impressive antennae to good effect.

Tenthredo temula (sawfly) sitting on a sunlit leaf. It has a largely black body but has a yellow tip and a yellow “saddle” near the top of the abdomen.

Dioctria atricapilla (Robberfly) sitting on a grass blade.

The hoverfly Cheilosia illustrata nectaring on a white Hogweed flower.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· May 7

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

Longhorn beetle Clytus arietis at rest on a leaf. The insect has yellow wasp-like markings on the wing cases

The hoverfly Chrysotoxum cautum sitting on a leaf. The abdomen has a black & yellow wasp-like pattern.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Apr 20

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

Overhead view of a hoverfly resting with wings open on a sunlit leaf. This small, black hoverfly has 3 pairs of yellow triangular markings on its abdomen.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Apr 3

A male Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) taking a brief pause from his frenetic pursuit of females in the Taunton sun yesterday. #bugsky

A male Hairy-footed Flower Bee resting on a sunlit leaf seen from above. The splayed front legs show the hairs which gives its name to good effect.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Apr 2

It’s 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

A hoverfly seen from above on a sunlit leaf. The abdomen has a pair of triangular yellow marks at the top and 2 yellow bands beneath.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Mar 31

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

Side view of a female Brimstone butterfly perched on a bramble leaf. The closed wings are greenish-white, with a couple of orange dots.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Mar 20

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

Tawny Mining Bee, with its rich brown body hair, seen from above on a sunlit leaf.

Ashy Mining Bee, with 2 silver-grey stripes on its black body, seen from the side in a sunlit leaf.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Mar 18

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 I’ve seen this Spring. #bugsky

Umbellifer Longhorn Beetle sitting on a sunlit twig. The beetle is largely black but has orange front legs

Umbellifer Longhorn Beetle resting on a sunlit leaf.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Mar 11

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

A sunlit path flanked by Blackthorn bushes full of blossom.

A male Eristalis pertinax hoverfly feeding on a Blackthorn flower.

A female Syrphus torvus hoverfly feeding on a Blackthorn flower.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jan 31

I came across a decent assemblage of Jelly Ear fungus at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning, not a species I encounter very often.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Jan 3

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

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 25

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

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 23

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

A Cormorant perched atop a dead tree, looking left against a blue sky.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 9

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

A hoverfly with broad yellow bands seen from above, feeding on a Dandelion flower.

A smart red and black beetle climbing a reed stem.

A yellow ladybird with numerous black spots clinging to the edge of a leaf.

A Migrant Hawker dragonfly seen from above, perched in a dried reed stem.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 9

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

A head-on view of a Stoat with all four feet off the ground, crossing a path on the Somerset Levels.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 8

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

A side view of a Hornet sitting on the inside pocket of a pair of jeans pegged to a washing line.

A close-up view of the hornet, facing left.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Oct 6

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

A male Didea fasciata hoverfly basking on a sunlit leaf. The fly has a pair of yellow markings at the bottom of the abdomen which are said to resemble ski goggles.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Sep 25

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

Side view of a Hairy Shieldbug on a plant stem. The purple and pale gold body markings provide great camouflage.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Sep 24

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 sunlit male European Hornet feeding on ivy seen from above.

A sunlit male Hornet Hoverfly seen from above, feeding on ivy.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Sep 8

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 Robin’s Pincushion gall on a Dig Rose stem. It is a pom pom-like, woody growth with a red-tinged fibrous outer layer.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Sep 5

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

A very bristly Tachina fera fly seen head-down & from the side, feeding on a purple Scabious flower.

Robin Parker@thegreatskua· Aug 25

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