Gail Ashton
@gailashton.bsky.social
bug lover / nature nerd
photographer / author / illustrator
www.gailashton.co.uk
Books available here:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/gail-ashton-nature
photographer / author / illustrator
www.gailashton.co.uk
Books available here:
https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/gail-ashton-nature
Reposted by Gail Ashton
First & last flies featured in #FliesofBritainandIreland – Wasp-banded Comb-horn Ctenophora flaveolata & Deer Warble Fly Hypoderma diana. Nearing completion due late Jan/early Feb 2026. Pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 5:18 PM
First & last flies featured in #FliesofBritainandIreland – Wasp-banded Comb-horn Ctenophora flaveolata & Deer Warble Fly Hypoderma diana. Nearing completion due late Jan/early Feb 2026. Pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
New work from my Master’s research project, ‘The Alder’.
The Common Alder is home to a huge number of invertebrate species, including beetles, sawflies, leaf miners and at least 50 moths. Some of these species can be seen in the feeding signs on leaves.
#CommonAlder
#tree
#ecologies
The Common Alder is home to a huge number of invertebrate species, including beetles, sawflies, leaf miners and at least 50 moths. Some of these species can be seen in the feeding signs on leaves.
#CommonAlder
#tree
#ecologies
September 27, 2025 at 7:19 PM
New work from my Master’s research project, ‘The Alder’.
The Common Alder is home to a huge number of invertebrate species, including beetles, sawflies, leaf miners and at least 50 moths. Some of these species can be seen in the feeding signs on leaves.
#CommonAlder
#tree
#ecologies
The Common Alder is home to a huge number of invertebrate species, including beetles, sawflies, leaf miners and at least 50 moths. Some of these species can be seen in the feeding signs on leaves.
#CommonAlder
#tree
#ecologies
August 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Reposted by Gail Ashton
We're now laying out the Tachinids for #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z to be published this Autumn TOP Cistogaster globosa & Gymnocheta viridis; BOTTOM Phasia hemiptera & Tachina grossa @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social
August 6, 2025 at 8:43 AM
We're now laying out the Tachinids for #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z to be published this Autumn TOP Cistogaster globosa & Gymnocheta viridis; BOTTOM Phasia hemiptera & Tachina grossa @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social
The home run!! 😃
On the home run now for our #FliesofBritainandIreland book bit.ly/4dqQI8Z – Steven Falkhas now completed the text for the Anthomyiidae & we've started laying out the intro pages
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
July 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The home run!! 😃
Reposted by Gail Ashton
On the home run now for our #FliesofBritainandIreland book bit.ly/4dqQI8Z – Steven Falkhas now completed the text for the Anthomyiidae & we've started laying out the intro pages
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
June 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
On the home run now for our #FliesofBritainandIreland book bit.ly/4dqQI8Z – Steven Falkhas now completed the text for the Anthomyiidae & we've started laying out the intro pages
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @tverc1.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
Summer evenings don’t get much better than watching a Barn Owl hunting at sunset
💚💚💚
💚💚💚
June 19, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Summer evenings don’t get much better than watching a Barn Owl hunting at sunset
💚💚💚
💚💚💚
Reposted by Gail Ashton
Off to the Gower next week & hope to see the magnificent Pied-winged Robberfly (Pamponerus germanicus) at Whiteford Burrows. All of Britain's robberflies are covered in our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
May 29, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Off to the Gower next week & hope to see the magnificent Pied-winged Robberfly (Pamponerus germanicus) at Whiteford Burrows. All of Britain's robberflies are covered in our #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social
I don’t know what this type of cloud is called, but it’s a cracker.
May 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
I don’t know what this type of cloud is called, but it’s a cracker.
Reposted by Gail Ashton
Lesser Bulb Fly (Eumerus funeralis) a small hoverfly is common in our garden & develops in Spanish Bluebells, also seen on its leaves was the Large Narcissus Fly a bumblebee mimic #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z
@bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@gailashton.bsky.social
@bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@gailashton.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Lesser Bulb Fly (Eumerus funeralis) a small hoverfly is common in our garden & develops in Spanish Bluebells, also seen on its leaves was the Large Narcissus Fly a bumblebee mimic #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z
@bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@gailashton.bsky.social
@bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@gailashton.bsky.social
Reposted by Gail Ashton
Now laying out the Snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae) pages for our new #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Now laying out the Snail-killing flies (Sciomyzidae) pages for our new #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @bbowt.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Finding a little joy in the unexpected things.
May 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Finding a little joy in the unexpected things.
Reposted by Gail Ashton
Picture-winged Flies pages are now laid out for our NEW #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now at bit.ly/4dqQI8Z & save £££s on published price @gailashton.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social
May 1, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Picture-winged Flies pages are now laid out for our NEW #FliesofBritainandIreland due Autumn 2025 - pre-order now at bit.ly/4dqQI8Z & save £££s on published price @gailashton.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social
Pear blossom is the gift that keeps on giving 💚
April 18, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Pear blossom is the gift that keeps on giving 💚
Reposted by Gail Ashton
If any naturalists would like to increase their knowledge of flies, then this is a great way to do it! But as Andy says, these workshops need a minimum number of participants to run so do consider booking a place on this, or one of the others (mosquitoes, sawflies, wasps)
On May 17th there's a one day Diptera workshop, run by @norfolknats.bsky.social at Sheringham Park. I'm hoping to attend, but thought I'd advertise it in case anyone else is interested (ie so that it goes ahead.) £15 payable on the day. norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/events-pa...
Workshops 2025 |
norfolknaturalists.org.uk
April 14, 2025 at 8:04 PM
If any naturalists would like to increase their knowledge of flies, then this is a great way to do it! But as Andy says, these workshops need a minimum number of participants to run so do consider booking a place on this, or one of the others (mosquitoes, sawflies, wasps)
Reposted by Gail Ashton
What a stunning way to launch The Life Affirming Magic of Birds 🐦
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
April 10, 2025 at 11:21 PM
What a stunning way to launch The Life Affirming Magic of Birds 🐦
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
This was a lovely evening. Congrats Charlie!
What a stunning way to launch The Life Affirming Magic of Birds 🐦
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
A beautiful conversation with Nick Acheson to a room full of people who share our love for the natural world 🌎
#BookLaunch #Norfolk #Nature #Wildlife #Author #History #TLAMOB #MagicOfBirds #Writer
📷 @gailashton.bsky.social
April 11, 2025 at 5:47 AM
This was a lovely evening. Congrats Charlie!
Reposted by Gail Ashton
Just about to start laying out pages for these little gems, the picture-winged flies for our new book #FliesofBritainandIreland to be published Autumn 2025 – order now & SAVE £££s bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
March 31, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Just about to start laying out pages for these little gems, the picture-winged flies for our new book #FliesofBritainandIreland to be published Autumn 2025 – order now & SAVE £££s bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
Making sun prints in situ.
#Cyanotype
#Cyanotype
March 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Making sun prints in situ.
#Cyanotype
#Cyanotype
Reposted by Gail Ashton
CONOPIDS are fascinating flies. Females deposit an egg in the abdomen of a bee or wasp whist in flight. The larva develops inside & pupates when the host dies #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
March 19, 2025 at 1:48 PM
CONOPIDS are fascinating flies. Females deposit an egg in the abdomen of a bee or wasp whist in flight. The larva develops inside & pupates when the host dies #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @gailashton.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social
“Live in the moment,
humans are often told,
but snails don’t need to
be told. We’re in the moment
all the time, and the
moment is in us.”
Margaret Atwood: Old Babes in the Wood
humans are often told,
but snails don’t need to
be told. We’re in the moment
all the time, and the
moment is in us.”
Margaret Atwood: Old Babes in the Wood
March 13, 2025 at 8:39 AM
“Live in the moment,
humans are often told,
but snails don’t need to
be told. We’re in the moment
all the time, and the
moment is in us.”
Margaret Atwood: Old Babes in the Wood
humans are often told,
but snails don’t need to
be told. We’re in the moment
all the time, and the
moment is in us.”
Margaret Atwood: Old Babes in the Wood
Reposted by Gail Ashton
I finished my paper today. Woo-hoo!
Lots and lots of minor details to finish it off. Now back to looking at other Cyperaceae stuff.
Lots and lots of minor details to finish it off. Now back to looking at other Cyperaceae stuff.
March 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I finished my paper today. Woo-hoo!
Lots and lots of minor details to finish it off. Now back to looking at other Cyperaceae stuff.
Lots and lots of minor details to finish it off. Now back to looking at other Cyperaceae stuff.