Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 20/09/2026I fulfilled a childhood dream yesterday - seeing my first Red-billed Choughs. Concealed among the other corvids, that slender, blood red bill gave me such a prickle of excitement when I caught sight of it. What an elegant, striking bird and well worth the battering from the Atlantic gusts. 1101
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 23/04/2026Check out the review in British Wildlife here bit.ly/4tlMckS for our recently published #BestFlyBook A Photographic Guide to Flies of Britain & Ireland @rdimond.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @bbowt.bsky.social @worcswt.bsky.social 084
Reposted by Gail AshtonEntomological Society of America @entsocamerica.bsky.social · 21/02/2026Join us February 27 for a webinar in honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, hosted by the International Association of Black Entomologists. Panelists will share their research programs, professional accomplishments & testimonies of resilience. Register today: www.entsoc.org/events/webin... 175
Reposted by Gail AshtonSteve @stevetypesstuff.bsky.social · 21/02/2026Oh hello… it’s here! The new ‘Photographic guide to flies of Britain and Ireland’. Steven Falk (not sure if he’s on BS?) @gailashton.bsky.social @rdimond.bsky.social Peter Creed Forward by @flygirlnhm.bsky.social It is an astonishing piece of work for such a diverse taxonomic group. #diptera 1308
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 20/02/2026THE WAIT IS OVER - We're busy mailing out copies of our new guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland to all those who pre-ordered. Order your copy here bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @rdimond.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @sussexwildlife.bsky.social 2287
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 17/02/2026It’s here! The wait is over! Thank you for your patience to all of you who pre-ordered ☺️ 0307
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 08/02/2026The first Lesser Celandine of my year, navigating its way through the undergrowth, seen in Beds today. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social 0384
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 30/01/2026Ben Lawers, Perthshire, 8th of 9 great places to see an amazing range of flies featured in our guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland due mid-Feb 2026. Hurry, pre-pub offer runs til 31 Jan bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @rdimond.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social 032
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 16/01/2026THE WAIT IS NEARLY OVER: Just signed off the printer's proofs for our new guide to #FliesofBritainandIreland - due mid-Feb 2026. Pre-pub offer runs until 31 Jan - order your copy now bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @rdimond.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social 1134
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 13/01/2026Our new 416pp #FliesofBritainandIreland covering over 1300 species & with over 1500 photos is now being printed - due mid Feb 2026. You can still pre-order until 31 Jan bit.ly/4dqQI8Z @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social @dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social 23922
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 14/11/2025First & 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 1205
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 27/09/2025New 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 040
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 16/08/2025Saw this queen toda 💛🤍🖤 Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennechi) #HertsSpiders 0233
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 14/08/2025It’s one of those evenings when you feel like you’ve accidentally walked onto a film set. #sunset 090
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 06/08/2025We'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 0265
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 30/06/2025On 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 0236
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 19/06/2025Summer evenings don’t get much better than watching a Barn Owl hunting at sunset 💚💚💚 18412
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 29/05/2025Off 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 041
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 14/05/2025I don’t know what this type of cloud is called, but it’s a cracker. 380
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 12/05/2025Lesser 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 0142
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 07/05/2025Now 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 0143
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 01/05/2025Picture-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 0329
Reposted by Gail AshtonNorfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society @norfolknats.bsky.social · 14/04/2025If 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) 021
Reposted by Gail AshtonCharlie Bingham @charliebingham.bsky.social · 11/04/2025What 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 1112
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 31/03/2025Just 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 0416
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 19/03/2025CONOPIDS 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 061
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 13/03/2025“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 060
Reposted by Gail AshtonDr Astrid Biddle @astridbiddle.bsky.social · 06/03/2025I finished my paper today. Woo-hoo! Lots and lots of minor details to finish it off. Now back to looking at other Cyperaceae stuff. 3422
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 12/03/2025As you know I am a very casual birder at best, but my first Great White Egret at @suffolkwildlife.bsky.social Carlton Marshes today was a bit special. Can you spot it? 2171
Reposted by Gail AshtonRory Dimond @rdimond.bsky.social · 10/03/2025A new #bee for me! A male White-faced Mason Bee (Osmia cornuta), one of several drinking from Mahonia in a pub garden in St Margarets, Herts. Never managed to spot one in London but nice to see them spreading into the home counties. As good an excuse as any to yoink myself back into social media. 0386
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 09/03/2025Close encounters with cave spiders in the Peak District today. Meta menardi is a scarce and highly specialised spider that lives close to the entrance of caves. The egg sacs are beautiful, silken teardrops that suspend from the ceiling and ledges. #CaveSpider #MetaMenardi #spider #PeakDistrict 0100
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 06/03/2025Marram grass appreciation post. • Stabiliser of cliffs and dune systems. • Safe harbour for invertebrates, birds, reptiles and mammals. • Harvested to make fishing nets, house roofs and even shoes. • Looks, sounds and feels amazing. #marram #grass #coast #nature 0153
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 25/02/2025Spring spring spring spring spring spring spring. Black Oil Beetle out in the late February sunshine. #MeloeProscarabaeus #BlackOilBeetle #BeetlesOfBluesky 0260
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 20/02/2025I’m outside. In February. Without a coat. (Yes, Northern Hemisphere.) 020
Reposted by Gail AshtonCath Hodsman @cathhodsman.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Did u know? We mustn't all panic this season when aphids appear in our gardens. Leave these little sap suckers be, because they're re food for everything else - Ladybirds, Lacewings & Wasps AND they feed young nestlings. Don't spray, celebrate. Whoop! 🙌🌱🌿🌍🪲🐦⬛🐙 67817
Reposted by Gail AshtonNatureBureau @naturebureau.bsky.social · 10/02/2025Flat-footed Flies might be tiny at 3 to 4 mm in length, but they're amazing little flies - the bright orange Agathomyia wankowiczii was seen #BBOWT's Bowdown Woods #FliesofBritainandIreland bit.ly/4dqQI8Z #gail_in_nature @flygirlnhm.bsky.social @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social 0248
Reposted by Gail AshtonBiological Recording Company @biologicalrecording.co.uk · 09/02/2025Mission: Bee-fly 1. Look out for bee-flies. 2. Photograph bee-fly. 3. Identify bee-fly species observed. 4. Submit record to Bee-fly Watch. Disperse and observe biological recorders. 3133
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 09/02/2025My first cherry plum blossom of the year, in Bedfordshire today. #wildflowerhour @wildflowerhour.bsky.social 0412
Reposted by Gail AshtonMartin Harvey @kitenet.bsky.social · 06/02/2025My colleague Sue Taylor has arranged a Women Entomologists Networking Day, in association with @britentsoc.bsky.social, taking place in Buckinghamshire on 10 May - contact Sue to find out more. 33013
Reposted by Gail AshtonMarc Somssich @somssich.bsky.social · 01/02/2025Do you know Daisy Roulland-Dussoix? She is one of the discoverers of restriction enzymes, who’s findings paved the way for the development of recombinant DNA and cloning technologies. Accordingly, the finding was rewarded with a #NobelPrize. But the prize didn’t go to her. 🧵👇 7261124
Gail Ashton @gailashton.bsky.social · 02/02/2025Happy Imbolc you lovely people of Bluesky. In the Pagan calendar, Imbolc celebrates the halfway point between Winter solstice (Yule) and the Spring equinox (Ostara) in the Northern hemisphere, as tiny daily increments of increasing daylight pull us out of the long dark. 0316
Reposted by Gail AshtonDave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · 27/01/2025Pet owners accidentally poisoning garden birds. Our latest research finds pet flea treatments (fipronil and imidacloprid) in 100% of blue tit and great tit nests, with nestling mortality higher in the more contaminated nest. @SongBirdSBS @SussexUni @CannelleTassin 20441297