I'm also happy to be proved wrong, it's happened before.
07.03.2026 13:48
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I'm also happy to be proved wrong, it's happened before.
See what you mean about the white head and neck shawl but everything else, including structure, says Herring Gull to me.
And a happy birthday to you!
Aglaostigma aucupariae (Tenthredinidae) always my 1st sawfly of the year, dozens out today. 5/3/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Anthophora plumipes (Apidae) Hairy-footed Flower Bee male. 5/3/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Eudasyphora cyanella female (Muscidae). 5/3/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Phaonia subventa female (Muscidae) 5/3/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Like saying hello to old friends; lots of familiar faces out and about today.
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Many who were around in the 80s & onwards will be sad to hear that Clive Byers has passed away.
I was lucky to spend time with him as a youngster through mutual friends. Always hilarious & upbeat, & the centre of unlimited wild stories. A talented artist & a genuine one-off.
#norfolkbirding
Sorry to hear that Clive Byers died yesterday. There'll be many who knew Clive a lot better than I did but I considered him a friend. Always fun, always helpful to a fellow illustrator and always happy to provide a floor to crash on.
A great guy I wish I'd known better.
Barnacle Geese in flight at Kalvebod Fælled/Vestamager, Copenhagen, Denmark 2 March 2026.
Barnacle Geese feeding flock at Kalvebod Fælled/Vestamager, Copenhagen, Denmark 2 March 2026.
White-tailed Eagle (2cy?) at Kalvebod Fælled/Vestamager, Copenhagen, Denmark 2 March 2026.
White-tailed Eagle (ad or near ad) at Kalvebod Fælled/Vestamager, Copenhagen, Denmark 2 March 2026.
Our eldest having relocated to Copenhagen a few months back, we thought we'd pay him a visit. Managed to fit in a day of birding at nearby Kalvebod Fælled/Vestamager: 1000's of Barnacle Geese and a couple of WT Eagles were the highlights.
A Photographic Guide to the Flies of Britain & Ireland, Falk, Ashton, Dimond & Creed 2026, photo of front cover.
A Photographic Guide to the Flies of Britain & Ireland, Falk, Ashton, Dimond & Creed 2026, photo of pages 250, 251.
A fantastic piece of work, a superb guide to the marvellous diversity of diptera in these islands.
And I'm very happy to have contributed a couple of photos: see my Colobaea bifasciella on p. 251.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Looks like a Lasioglossum sp. to me.
Luffia lapidella (Psychidae) on grave stone in Topsham Cemetery 23/2/2026.
A Ramshorn Bagworm grazing the plains of lichen on top of a grave stone; carrying its home/sleeping bag as it goes. Luffia lapidella (Psychidae) caterpillar.
#lepidoptera
Common Wasp queen (Vespula vulgaris) on lichen-covered head stone. 22 Feb 2026 Topsham, Devon.
Common Wasp queen looking none too pleased at having to get up so early. 14C today so time to get moving.
#hymenoptera
Will do, been checking for bugs but none yet.
Cacopsylla cf. visci (Psyllidae) early instar nymph on Mistletoe (Viscum album). 11 Feb 2026 Topsham, Devon.
Cacopsylla cf. visci (Psyllidae) late instar nymph on Mistletoe (Viscum album). 19 Feb 2026 Topsham, Devon.
Cacopsylla cf. visci (Psyllidae) exuviae on Mistletoe (Viscum album). 21 Feb 2026 Topsham, Devon.
Cacopsylla cf. visci (Psyllidae) adult male on Mistletoe (Viscum album). 21 Feb 2026 Topsham, Devon.
I found some Psyllid nymphs on Mistletoe (on an Apple tree) in our garden. I've kept an eye on them and today found the first adults. Almost certainly Cacopsylla visci which appears to be uncommon and possibly the first Devon record.
It's not even the rarest insect found on our garden apple tree.
Scarlet Tiger caterpillar (Callimorpha dominula) on Comfrey. 21/2/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Scarlet Tiger caterpillar (Callimorpha dominula) on Comfrey. 21/2/2026 Topsham, Devon.
At least a dozen well-grown Scarlet Tiger caterpillars on a patch of roadside Comfrey from my morning walk.
#lepidoptera
A fantastic photo of a RND that shows the barely perceptible chestnut necklace: not the bird's most distinctive feature, even on a skin.
Calliphora vicina (Calliphoridae) female. Yellowish jowls/cheeks and dark beard. 20/2/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Calliphora vomitoria (Calliphoridae) female. greyish jowls/cheeks and orange beard. 20/2/2026 Topsham, Devon.
Bluebottles from Topsham Cemetery posing helpfully to show differences:
Yellow jowls + dark beard = Calliphora vicina.
Grey jowls + orange beard = Calliphora vomitoria.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Cover of book Pan-species Listing by Graeme Lyons.
Really enjoying this by @graemelyons.bsky.social
I don't think I'll ever become a super-naturalist but I'll have fun trying!
#PanSpeciesListing
Thanks Tylan, that's brilliant! I've put it on iRecord.
Thanks Andrew, I'd like better photos but hand held in low light I'm glad it's identifiable.
Caterpillar of Buff Footman Moth (Eilema depressa) on grave stone under Yew.
Also a nice caterpillar: Buff Footman (Eilema depressa). A species I've recorded a few times in the garden but never knowingly seen a caterpillar before.
Mecinus circulatus (Curculionidae) a scarce coastal species in Devon. I've found a couple of times previously in our garden just across the road.
Psococerastis gibbosa (Psocidae) the largets UK Barkfly. Quite widespread but appears to be uncommon: probably under recorded.
Very poor photo but it was dark and the beetle was moving but I'm fairly sure this is Rhyzobius lophanthae (Coccinellidae) a new ladybird sp. for me.
Trichopsocus brincki (Psocidae) A new Barkfly sp. for me. Probably quite widespread abut also probably under recorded. Thanks to @persmiseth.bsky.social for confirming.
Another hour in Topsham Cemetery today and a few goodies: Beetles and Barkflies: looks like two new species for me.
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Agonopterix cf. heracliana I think; if so a look at the hind wing required to confirm.
Metellina cf. merianae female. Fairly confident of ID but not 100%
Polydesmus sp. a flat-backed milipede.
Nemobius sylvestris, a male Wood Cricket. Overwinter as nymphs which mature and breed the following summer.
A quick look at the garden compost heap turned up few things: a couple of voles quickly scarpered and left a few inverts that looked less than happy to be briefly exposed to the light. Names in Alt texts.
Brilliant, many thanks. No specimen this time I'm afraid; I'll keep looking!
I'm going to take a wild guess: Anyphaena numida female? Unlikely perhaps but happy to be corrected!
Unknown spider Topsham, Devon, 9/2/2026.
Unknown spider Topsham, Devon, 9/2/2026.
Unknown spider Topsham, Devon, 9/2/2026.
Unknown spider Topsham, Devon, 9/2/2026.
Anyone recognise this spider please? Checked my books and can't get anywhere. On a grave stone, Topsham, Devon, 9/2/2026.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
If asked and I think they're genuinely interested I'm always happy to explain; at least perhaps they'll then realise I'm harmless!
Hawthorn Shieldbug (Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale) adult on grave stone, Topsham Cemetery 9/2/2026.
Juniper Shieldbug (Cyphostethus tristriatus) adult on grave stone, Topsham Cemetery 9/2/2026.
Heather Ladybirds (Chilocorus bipustulatus) gathering on grave stone, Topsham Cemetery 9/2/2026.
Common Damsel Bug (Nabis rugosus) on grave stone, Topsham Cemetery 9/2/2026.
A short walk around the cemetery produced a few bugs and beetles. Also a few puzzled looks from dog walkers etc. Sometimes people ask what I'm doing, mostly they keep their distance and don't make eye contact. . .
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16-spot Ladybirds (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata) gathering on fence post. 6 Feb 2026 RSPB Exminster Marshes, Devon
16-spot Ladybirds (Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata) gathering on fence post. 6 Feb 2026 RSPB Exminster Marshes, Devon
Impressively large gatherings of 16-spot Ladybirds on fence posts in the floods at RSPB Exminster Marshes to day. A few other beetle species wandering among them looking for a dry spot.
#ladybird
#coleoptera
Labour keeps talking about saving the high street without naming the real problem. Car dependency. You cannot fix town centres while planning everything around driving. The internet is permanent. Retail only survives where footfall is dense, local, frequent, and cheap to access.
Agree with Steve, also nostrils rather V-shaped, should be more parallel on Grey Seal, even a young one.