Robin Parker
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thegreatskua.bsky.social
Robin Parker
@thegreatskua.bsky.social
290 followers 220 following 150 posts
Insects, birds & plants mainly.
Somerset, UK
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thegreatskua.bsky.social
Patient and majestic, a statuesque Grey Heron at Roughmoor in Taunton this morning.
#ukbirding
October 25, 2025 at 1:19 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
October 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
October 9, 2025 at 4:19 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
October 9, 2025 at 4:08 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
October 8, 2025 at 12:46 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
October 6, 2025 at 5:12 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
September 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
September 24, 2025 at 3:20 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
September 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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.
September 5, 2025 at 6:19 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
One of my favourite hoverflies, a Dasysyrphus albostriatus (Stripe-backed Fleckwing), feeding on a potted Dahlia on our patio in Taunton today.
#bugsky
Close-up, overhead view of a hoverfly feeding on a Dahlia flower. The fly has a series of yellow bands on its abdomen and a pair of longitudinal white stripes on its shiny thorax.
August 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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
A soldierfly with an iridescent green thorax, a long thin abdomen and long hind legs, resting on the ceiling coving in our dining room. A small black hoverfly with distinctive spotted eyes, seen from above on the stamens of a pink Dahlia flower.
August 21, 2025 at 3:44 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
The Conopid fly Physocephala rufipes (Waisted Bee-grabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton this morning.
#bugsky
#diptera
A Waisted Bee-grabber seen from above on a purple thistle flower. The fly has an extended abdomen with a thin waist.
July 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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
Front view of an Eristalinus sepulchralis hoverfly perched on a dried seed-head. The fly has distinctive red eyes with multiple yellow dots on them.
July 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
One of the Gasteruption species of Carrot Wasp nectaring on Fennel in our garden today, another stunning example of insect architecture.
#bugsky
#diptera
A species of Carrot Wasp feeding on yellow Fennel flowers. The wasp has a black body with a long, thin abdomen and an extremely long, white-tipped ovipositor.
July 13, 2025 at 12:55 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
Pleased to see a couple of Conops quadrifasciatus (Four-banded Beegrabber) at Longrun Meadow in Taunton today, fabulous insects.
#bugsky
#diptera
A Conops quadrifasciatus (Four-banded Beegrabber) seen from the side sitting on a thistle flower. This black fly has a curved abdomen with a number of horizontal yellow bands, and long black antennae.
July 8, 2025 at 2:40 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
A stunning male Horsefly (Tabanus autumnalis possibly) at RSPB Greylake on the Somerset Levels yesterday. Those eyes…
#bugsky
#diptera
Overhead view of a large Horsefly basking on a wooden rail. The fly has a dark body variously marked with pale lines & markings, and large, faceted eyes. A head-on view of the same fly showing the beautiful eyes, largely brown but seeping to orange, yellow & turquoise at the lower margins.
July 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
A female Leafcutter Bee in action in our garden in Taunton today.
#bugsky
Side view of a female Leafcutter bee cutting a section of leaf from a plant. The bee is facing left and has a dark body with a series of thin, pale stripes on top of the abdomen and a bright orange pollen brush on the underside.
June 13, 2025 at 1:11 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
‘Arrangement in Yellow and Black’.
Two fine examples from Taunton yesterday: Large Spearhorn hoverfly (Chrysotoxum cautum) and Spotted Longhorn beetle (Rutpela maculata).
#bugsky
Chrysotoxum cautum hoverfly basking in a sunlit leaf. The fly is a good wasp mimic, with number of yellow bands across a black abdomen. Spotted Longhorn beetle feeding on white Hogweed flowers. The beetle has a black head & thorax, yellow wing cases with a number of black marks on, and large black & yellow- striped antennae.
June 9, 2025 at 2:48 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
Pleased to record two new species in our Taunton garden today: Wool Carder Bee (Anthidium manicatum) and Pied Plumehorn hoverfly (Volucella pellucens).
#bugsky
#ukwildlife
A frontal view of a Wool Carder Bee resting on some gravel. The bee has a yellow face & a series of yellow dots along the side of its brown abdomen. A Pied Plumehorn hoverfly seen from above feeding in a daisy flower. The fly has a black body with a large white band across the abdomen. The wings also have a dark smudge near the centre.
June 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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
A female Flecked General soldierfly on white Hogweed flowers. The fly is black and has a broad, flattish abdomen with a series of pale marks around the edge, and has very long antennae. A female Volucella bombylans hoverfly nectaring on some white Hogweed flowers. The fly is a good bumblebee mimic. A female Fredegunda diluta Ichneumon wasp sitting on a reed stem. The fly is largely brown and has long antennae and a dark ovipositor. A Cantharis fusca Solider Beetle on a white Hogweed flower. The beetle has black wing cases and legs, a black head, and an orange pronotum which has a black mark near the head.
June 2, 2025 at 7:16 PM
thegreatskua.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
Side view of an Anasimyia lineata hoverfly perched on a grass blade. The fly is black with yellow longitudinal stripes on the thorax and some creamy marks on the abdomen. The most conspicuous feature, however, is the protruding yellow mouth, much like a duck’s bill.
May 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
thegreatskua.bsky.social
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
A male Chrysotoxum cautum hoverfly nectaring on a white Hogweed flower. The fly has a broad black abdomen with a series of yellow bands which make it look somewhat like a wasp. A male Broad Centurion soldierfly seen from above feeding on a white Ground Elder flower. The fly has a green head and an iridescent green thorax, with a shiny brown abdomen. Side view of the same Broad Centurion fly.
May 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM
thegreatskua.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
An Ornate Brigadier soldierfly sitting on a sunlit leaf. The fly has matt-red eyes, a hairy coppery thorax and a broad black body which has a series of pale brown & chestnut markings along the edge A Black Colonel soldierfly sitting on a sunlit grass stem. The fly is all black, with a large, broad abdomen. Its wings look like gossamer as they catch the light
May 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
thegreatskua.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
A Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis) sitting in a sunlit reed. The insect is black with a series of yellow bands A Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata) feeding on a white umbellifer. The insect is black with four broken yellow bands on the body A different Four-banded Longhorn Beetle (Leptura quadrifasciata) perched on a grass stem. The insect is black with four broken yellow bands on the body The spectacular Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle (Agapanthia villosoviridescens) sitting on a sunlit leaf. The beetle has a golden iridescent bloom on the wing-cases and thorax and very long antennae are with dark and light bands
May 20, 2025 at 5:19 PM