Tim Worfolk
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timworfolk.bsky.social
Tim Worfolk
@timworfolk.bsky.social
830 followers 540 following 500 posts
Bird illustration, insect photography, getting more local (Topsham, Devon) every year.
My photos are here https://www.flickr.com/photos/141833872@N05/albums
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timworfolk.bsky.social
Superb photo!
Just a comment on your caption re ageing it: vermiculations and pale bill base can be shown by winter adults; it's a 1w because of retained juv GC - duller and brownish with ragged pale tips, see the new black inner GC.
Great to be able to see such detail!
birdguides.bsky.social BirdGuides @birdguides.bsky.social · 12h
It's tricky enough to see a Great Grey Shrike these days, let alone take an image as superb as Lee Fuller's, which makes him a worthy winner of a very strong Photo of the Week selection on Monday:
Photo of the Week: 10-16 November 2025
It's tricky enough to see a Great Grey Shrike these days, let alone take an image as superb as Lee Fuller's, which makes him a worthy Photo of the Week winner.
bit.ly
November 19, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Tim Worfolk
kitenet.bsky.social
Just visited the Lacewing Recording Scheme website and there are lots of great identification guides available, e.g. www.laars.jamesjepson.com/neuroptera-l... - thanks to @jamesjepson.bsky.social and colleagues for putting this together
Neuroptera (Lacewings) Identification | Lacewing and Allies Recording Scheme
www.laars.jamesjepson.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:26 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
One of two male (presumed 2cy) Marsh Harriers over the reeds at Topsham today. RN Grebe still on Bowling Green Marsh. Ruff, Kingfisher, Little Grebe all making for a fine morning stroll.
#lowcarbonbirding
#DevonBirds
Marsh Harrier male 16/11/2025 Topsham, Devon Marsh Harrier male 16/11/2025 Topsham, Devon Marsh Harrier male 16/11/2025 Topsham, Devon Marsh Harrier male 16/11/2025 Topsham, Devon
November 16, 2025 at 2:50 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Beautiful bird and beautiful field sketches!
stephbirdart.bsky.social Steph' Thorpe @stephbirdart.bsky.social · Sep 24
I didn't post these before but I think I will after all. The Hickling Black-winged Kite.
Set of pencil and watercolour sketches of a Black-winged Kite in a sketchbook. This page shows the bird perched and flying. The bird is a small raptor somewhere between a falcon and a kite in shape with broad but rather pointed silver grey wings with a black patch on the wing coverts (forming the shoulder that was in its old name and now refers to the very similar Australian species). The underbody is white and the upperparts are the same silvery gray as the wings. It has a shortish white tail with a shallow fork when closed. The central tail feathers are grey and contrast with the white outer feathers. The bird looks very white from underneath with black primaries contrasting. It has a typical raptor head shape with a neat hooked bill and a narrow black "bandit mask" through the eye. Set of pencil and watercolour sketches of a Black-winged Kite in a sketchbook. This page shows the bird perched and flying. It is sitting right at the top of the tree scanning the ground for prey. The bird is a small raptor somewhere between a falcon and a kite in shape with broad but rather pointed silver grey wings with a black patch on the wing coverts (forming the shoulder that was in its old name and now refers to the very similar Australian species). The underbody is white and the upperparts are the same silvery gray as the wings. It has a shortish white tail with a shallow fork when closed. The central tail feathers are grey and contrast with the white outer feathers. The bird looks very white from underneath with black primaries contrasting. It has a typical raptor head shape with a neat hooked bill and a narrow black "bandit mask" through the eye. Set of pencil and watercolour sketches of a Black-winged Kite in a sketchbook. This page shows the bird perched in a tree. The bird is a small raptor somewhere between a falcon and a kite in shape with broad but rather pointed silver grey wings with a black patch on the wing coverts (forming the shoulder that was in its old name and now refers to the very similar Australian species). The underbody is white and the upperparts are the same silvery gray as the wings. It has a shortish white tail with a shallow fork when closed. The central tail feathers are grey and contrast with the white outer feathers. The bird looks very white from underneath with black primaries contrasting. It has a typical raptor head shape with a neat hooked bill and a narrow black "bandit mask" through the eye. Set of pencil and watercolour sketches of a Black-winged Kite in a sketchbook. This page shows the bird perched in a tree and they were my first goes as I learned the birds shape. It was difficult through heat haze! The bird is a small raptor somewhere between a falcon and a kite in shape with broad but rather pointed silver grey wings with a black patch on the wing coverts (forming the shoulder that was in its old name and now refers to the very similar Australian species). The underbody is white and the upperparts are the same silvery gray as the wings. It has a shortish white tail with a shallow fork when closed. The central tail feathers are grey and contrast with the white outer feathers. The bird looks very white from underneath with black primaries contrasting. It has a typical raptor head shape with a neat hooked bill and a narrow black "bandit mask" through the eye.
September 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
A bit surprised by this at Topsham Rec yesterday. Goosander typically a rare winter visitor on the patch. This adult female (seems to be in wing moult) perhaps from our local breeding population.
#UKBirding
#DevonBirds
Goosander (Mergus merganser). Aged as adult as undergoing complete moult, no primaries visible beyond tertial tips. 4/9/2025 Topsham, Devon.
September 5, 2025 at 7:29 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Fewer insects about now but I found this mint fresh Tachinid in the garden yesterday. Panzeria anthophila, a female and presumably looking for some suitable caterpillar (Erebid or Noctuid moth) to host its eggs.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#diptera
#UKWildlife
Panzeria anthophila (Tachinidae) female. 30/8/2025 Topsham, Devon.
August 31, 2025 at 7:06 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
I've thought of another excuse to post more Wryneck. This shot shows the eye colour to be dark dull brown, on an adult it would be more reddish, so fairly confident this a juvenile/1st winter bird. Subtle plumage differences between ages best assessed in hand.
#UKBirding
#DevonBirds
Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) 28/8/2025 Turf Lock, Devon.
August 29, 2025 at 5:19 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Just in case there aren't enough photos of this lovely bird here's my Wryneck photo. Just happened to be walking past Turf Lock, didn't know it was still here - so not really twitching is it?
First I've ever photographed so happy it stayed on and behaved so well.
#DevonBirds
#LowCarbonBirding
Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) 28/8/2025 Turf Lock, Devon.
August 28, 2025 at 7:42 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
No doubt this juv White Stork at Topsham, Devon is one of the many released in Britain this year. Yellow c-r on right leg, too distant to read code but does anyone recognise the scheme?
#WhiteStork
#reintroduction
#UKBirding
White Stork juvenile with yellow c-r 4/8/2025 Topsham, Devon. White Stork juvenile with yellow c-r 4/8/2025 Topsham, Devon.
August 5, 2025 at 8:05 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Two of the larger Pondskaters: Lake Pondskater (Aquarius paludum) on left, and a pair of River Pondskaters (A. najas) on right. Appropriately enough on a canal. Neither that common I believe and paludum only recently recorded in Devon.
#Hemiptera
Pond Skaters Aquarius paludum (left) and Aquarius najas (right) 29 July 2025 Exeter Canal.
August 1, 2025 at 8:19 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
These little beauties are often very tricky to photograph but managed a few of this in the garden recently: good enough to get it IDed on FB BWARS site as Pseudomalus triangulifer. Apparently only recently recognised as a UK sp. so I've no idea how common it is.
#wasp
#hymenoptera
Pseudomalus triangulifer (Chrysididae). Only safely separated from the very similar P. auratus by its longer mid antennal segments. 28/7/2025 Topsham, Devon.
August 1, 2025 at 5:38 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Leaf mines on garden Dog Rose: I think it's Stigmella anomalella (Nepticulidae) but I'm way out of my area of competence with these!
#leafmine
#lepidoptera
Leaf mine on Dog Rose (Rosa canina). Early mine filled with greenish brown frass, as it widens frass darker and with clear pale borders, ending in a large pale blotch. Presumably Stigmella anomalella (Nepticulidae). 23 July 2025 Topsham, Devon. Leaf mine on Dog Rose (Rosa canina). Early mine filled with greenish brown frass, as it widens frass darker and with clear pale borders, ending in a large pale blotch. Presumably Stigmella anomalella (Nepticulidae). 23 July 2025 Topsham, Devon.
July 25, 2025 at 6:26 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Leptogaster cylindrica female. Tricky to photograph among the grass but I think I managed in the end.
Topsham, Devon.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#robberfly
#diptera
Leptogaster cylindrica female (Asilidae) 16 July 2025 Topsham, Devon.
July 16, 2025 at 3:49 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Crabro cribrarius male with his extravagantly modified front legs. Sometimes called 'Large Shield Wasp', sometimes known as 'Slender-bodied Digger Wasp'; either will do I suppose but using the scientific name is easier and less confusing.
On Hogweed, Topsham, Devon.
#hymenoptera
#wasp
Crabro cribrarius male (Crabronidae) with it's extravagantly modified fron t legs 16 July 2025 Topsham, Devon.
July 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
The common name has always puzzled me (presumably a recent invention). Why "sand tailed", or is it "sand-tailed"? I know arenaria relates to sand but I've never noticed anything particularly sandy about its tail.
ianbeavis.bsky.social Ian Beavis @ianbeavis.bsky.social · Jul 3
Female Sand Tailed Digger Wasp (Cerceris arenaria) carrying its weevil prey (to provide a food store for its larvae) back to its nest burrow on Tunbridge Wells Common today
July 4, 2025 at 1:35 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
In the garden yesterday: good light, not too windy and an nice variety of insects, one new to me.
Names etc. in ALT texts.
Campyloneura virgula (Miridae). A beautifully marked small predatory bug. Quite common but I rarely see them. 1/7/2025 Topsham, Devon. Oplodontha viridula (Stratiomyidae). Common Green Colonel, female. 1/7/2025 Topsham, Devon. Glypta sp. probably (Ichneumonidae). A female ovipositing into a knapweed head, presumably looking to find a larval host. 1/7/2025 Topsham, Devon. Rhagoletis alternata (Tephritidae). Widespread and probably not uncommon but this is my first. Found on roses, this on the only rose in our garden, a dog rose. 1/7/2025 Topsham, Devon.
July 2, 2025 at 5:24 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Opinions sought on this odd-looking bumble. Appears to be female and not, as I first thought, a cuckoo bee - corbiculate hind tarsus and 12 antennal segments. Posted on the BWARS FB group and no consensus reached. Any suggestions?
#hymenoptera
Female Bombus sp. Black and grey-white, faded? 30/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Female Bombus sp. Black and grey-white, faded? 30/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Female Bombus sp. Black and grey-white, faded? 30/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Female Bombus sp. Black and grey-white, faded? 30/6/2025 Topsham, Devon.
July 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Tim Worfolk
davegoulson.bsky.social
Extracting peat destroys one of our best carbon stores and trashes a unique, biodiverse habitat. Doing so to grow pretty flowers is hugely selfish. Ever heard of the climate and ecology crisis?
Come on, RHS, show some spine!
July 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Found these rather large aphids on a Nordmann Fir in the garden. Seem to be Cinara sp. but, despite their size and markings, further identification apparently problematic although I suspect Cinara confinis.
#aphids
#hemiptera
Large grey and black aphids on a Nordmann Fir. 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon Large grey and black aphids on a Nordmann Fir. 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon Large grey and black winged alate aphid on a Nordmann Fir. 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon
June 30, 2025 at 1:48 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
My local bee-bank is still operational. A forgotten corner of a new development (hope no one remembers it) and home to a small colony of bee-wolves and relatives including my first local record of Painted Nomad Bee.
Names etc. in ALT Texts.
Sandy bank, an excavated section of a Devon hedge/bank, on the edge of a new housing development. I didn't place the traffic cone there but it is helpful for scale. 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Philanthus triangulum male. 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Nomada fucata female 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Oxybelus uniglumis 29/6/2025 Topsham, Devon.
June 29, 2025 at 8:52 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Caught the action out of the corner of my eye: the robberfly dashed in and snatched this bug before landing on a nearby bean leaf. Dioctria baumhaueri female with its lunch Liocoris tripustulatus.

@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#robberfly
#diptera
Robberfly Dioctria baumhaueri female with prey Liocoris tripustulatus. 26/6/2025 Topsham, Devon.
June 27, 2025 at 5:07 AM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Macrotylus solitarius (Miridae) on Hedge Woundwort in our Topsham garden today. First found here in 2024 and so far the only known site for the sp. in Devon and Cornwall.
#hemiptera
Macrotylus solitarius (Miridae) on Hedge woundwort. 26/6/2025 Topsham, Devon.
June 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
Fantastic find, looks like it's spreading.
paulholt303.bsky.social Paul Holt @paulholt303.bsky.social · Jun 26
One of the school kids found this on Thursday afternoons minibeast safari at Samphire Hoe. A trapezium shield bug. The size of a match head! Very rare in the UK looks like it is a recent colonist and very likely to spread.
June 26, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by Tim Worfolk
naturebureau.bsky.social
Here are two spreads to tempt you from the Dung Flies Scathophagidae pages of our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z (maps to be done) for publication this autumn. @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social
@tverc1.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
June 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
timworfolk.bsky.social
A selection of Tephritid flies from the garden today. Very fond of these with their beautiful markings and curious displays. Names in ALT Texts.
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social
#diptera
#Tephritidae
Acanthophilus helianthi (Tephritidae) on knapweed. 25/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Anomoia purmunda (Tephritidae) on mistletoe. 25/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Sphenella marginata (Tephritidae) on ragwort. 25/6/2025 Topsham, Devon. Tephritis matricariae (Tephritidae) on apple (its small beetle companion is the very local Rhamphus subaeneus). 25/6/2025 Topsham, Devon.
June 25, 2025 at 8:02 PM