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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Practicing photographing smaller insects alongside the Hoverflies on my local rewilding site. This is called the Blue Cuckoo Wasp despite my conviction that it is in fact green

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

A female Eupeodes luniger that posed nicely at Dyffryn gardens last week

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I will be unlikely to see anything as unexpected at #RSPBHamWall as this Death's head Hawkmoth caterpillar that walked across the path today

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

A day on the Somerset Levels birding produced two unexpected Hoverflies #teamdiptera Sericomyia silensis and Dasysyrphus albostriatus

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

A lack of Hoverflies at our rewilding site , so I resorted to parasite flies today. Names under alt on photos. Both still to be confirmed. #teamdiptera

Phasia hemiptera fly on pale background ( Bat-winged Phasia)

Nowickia ferox. Black and orange parasite fly

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I was fortunate enough to go with the grandchildren wildlife watching earlier this month. This Wasp Moth that landed on my arm was something I had not heard of before. (Not in the UK I must add)

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A Wasp Moth from my recent holiday. ( much more welcome than the actual Common Wasp crawling up my leg, inside my trousers, this afternoon)

A yellow and black striped moth on an arm

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Have not been seeing many hoverflies just recently as I was distracted by some cats. Normal service will be resumed shortly

Leopard with an Impala in an acacia tree

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

My first visit to #RSPBFendraytonlakes today to catch up with family. Pleased to see Green-eyed Hawker and Hummingbird Hawkmoth

Hawkmoth with curly proboscis facing right in flight

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Looking for hoverflies at our local rewinding site I came across this Picture-winged Fly which is a match for Merzomyia westermanni in the excellent new photographic guide. Lots of Ragwort on that part of the site too which is the food plant.

A fly with intricate wing markings on a neutral surface. It is facing top left

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Joined up with a Dipterists Forum visit to Berrow dunes where I caught this picture winged fly. Probably Urophora quadrifasciata. #teamdiptera #dipteristsforum

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

I came across this smart soldier fly . The Banded General ( Stratiomys potamida ) in the Gordano valley and couldn't resist cooling it down for a photo

A yellow and black fly facing left on a neutral background

A low angle view of a yellow and black Soldierfly

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This Golden-tailed Leafwalker (Xylota sylvarum) and my first adult Great Green Bush cricket for years were my highlights from a trip around a local nature reserve this afternoon

Britain's largest Bush cricket trying to remain hidden amongst grass and nettles

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

While photographing hoverflies I was amazed when this Red-tipped Clearwing appeared. It's a moth that is usually only ever seen when it responds to pheromone lures.

A wasp-like Clearwing moth on a white flower

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

I photographed several Syrphus type hoverflies at the weekend and was delighted that this was Pale-sided Smoothtail (Epistrophe diaphana) when I checked my images. A new hoverfly for me #flyday #eastcoastkin @dipteristsforum.bsky.social

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Not many hoverflies on a field trip to Aust today but this Rhinoceros beetle was great to see. Not big like the African ones but perfectly formed

A Rhinoceros shaped beetle in the palm of someone's hand

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I suspect it would have been much better known and liked if all the Elms hadn't died bringing it to the brink of extinction. We will never know

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I was astonished to find this White-letter Hairstreak at a local wilding site while looking at a sheltered hedge full of migrant hoverflies. The first record for the site it seems

A Hairstreak butterfly nectaring on a bramble flower

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

A Furry Drone Fly (Eristalis intricaria) from a few days ago #flyday. #eastcoastkin

A bumblebee mimic hoverfly on a yellow flower

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

This plant bug Grypocoris stysi (I believe) was particularly colourful though I only found half a dozen

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Between the showers at lower woods these Two-banded Meadow flies showed well today

A black hoverfly with yellow bands on a leaf

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

While many hoverflies are hard to identify correctly, this Two-banded Meadow Fly is uniquely patterned. Too windy for field photos so used my lightbox

A hoverfly with two yellow bands on a green background

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

While at Priddy I caught a Leafwalker hoverfly for photographing at home. It was only while I had it sat quietly on a piece of wood in the garden that I realised it was actually the locally rare Spruce-stump Leafwalker (Xylota jakutorum).

A mostly brown hoverfly on a piece of wood

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 30/05/2026

Marsh Fritillary was a surprise at Priddy today as it's usually just Small Pearl-bordered there

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

I think this is the first Wasp Beetle ( Clytus arietis ) that I have seen. I came across 2 while looking for Hoverflies at our local wilding site, Watercress Farm

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

My first Barred Dayglower (Xanthogramma pedissequum) of the year yesterday. I'm still very keen to see the other two members of that genus though. Also didn't take my camera so it had to come home to get it's photo taken

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Slightly wet Chiffchaff for me. Iberian very tricky without a recording of the call but supercilium should be yellow in front of eye as far as I know in that species

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

This is the first time I have been involved so I cannot sensibly compare. I suspect a report will be released in due course covering the multi-year results

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

An unusual photo of a Heath Ant Fly ( Microdon analis ) I took a couple of days ago in the New Forest for #flyday , #teamdiptera

A tiny hoverfly and it's larger shadow flying over a dead treetrunk

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Today was a National Trust sort of day so visited Dyrham Park. I was surprised and also delighted to see this Blotch-winged Whitebelt (Leucozona lucorum) in the orchard meadow. It's a species that I have looked for in the last two springs without success. #diptera

A hoverfly with white and black markings on a leaf

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

A terrific day in the New Forest today with members of the Green Forest Hoverfly survey team. We found 3 individuals of this rare hoverfly (Caliprobola speciosa). A fantastic creature

Green Forest Hoverfly on a rotting beech stump

Green Forest Hoverfly on a rotting beech dtump

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Several Swamp Thickener Hoverflies (Tropidia scita ) were ovipositing into flowers at Weston Moor. Slightly odd behaviour for a reedbed species but there were reeds along a rhyne very close by. #teamdiptera

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Lunch on Dartmoor yesterday and a new hoverfly for me. The wonderful White-barred Pond Fly (Sericomyia lappona) #teamdiptera

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

A visit to the Dutch water garden this afternoon turned up this Large Bulb Fly (Merodon Equestris ). I was very pleased as I had spent most of yesterday driving through bad traffic simply to fail to see any interesting Hoverflies in the New Forest !

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

This Snouted Duck Fly (Anasimyia lineata) was an unexpected visitor to my garden at lunchtime. @teamdiptera.bsky.social

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Broad-barred Brusheye (Dasysyrphus venustus) in my garden. Apparently not very common in this area I gather so I feel honoured

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Reposted by @howardtaffs.bsky.social

Jason Williams @portisheadbirds.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Great Bustards on Salisbury plain today with @howardtaffs.bsky.social. Live firing from the Army helped set the scene!

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

This, interesting looking hoverfly showed up in the garden late afternoon. I'm hoping it will be identifiable as Epistrophe nitidicollis as this will be another new one for me

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Another common Dainty hoverfly (Baccha elongata) but this one posed for photos. Not so lucky with a Meadow Fly which I am hoping is Chrysotoxum cautum but I only snatched a photo at distance #diptera

A yellow patterned hoverfly on a sunny leaf

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

A return to #RSPBhamwall gave views of this Snouted Duck Fly (Anasimyia lineata) between watching Red Kites, Hobbies and 5 commoner species of raptors.

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

A couple of hours at #RSPBhamwall produced some good birds and several hoverfly year ticks. Wooly-tailed Marsh Fly ( Helophilus hybridus) and Furry Drone Fly (Eristalis intricaria) amongst them. Year list hits the mid 30s

Wooly-tailed Marsh Fly on a yellow crucifer

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The picture's a bit blurry but this is Britain's 4th confirmed Sphegina limbipennis (Devon Pufftail ). I didn't know when I caught it on Saturday but I happened to be on a Devon Fly Group outing with the finders of the first two. Being vastly more experienced than me they recognised it immediately

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

It's not often I managed a photo that shows the pattern through the wings. This Long-winged Duskyface (Melanostoma scalare) was a real exception.

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Reposted by @howardtaffs.bsky.social

Dave Helliar @dhelliar.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

Thrilled to find my first Large Tortoiseshell in the UK today (Somerset) @savebutterflies.bsky.social #SomersetButterflies #inverts

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

A day at Lower woods produced several new Hoverflies for my year list. Here are Orange Snout (Rhingia rostrata) , Orange-belted Leaf walker, (Xylota segnis) and a Blacklet on a Buttercup

Sawfly mimicking hoverfly facing downwards

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

A great few hours with the Devon Fly group. Lots of checking to do but this Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) posed for my phone

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Several in Feb and early March in Bristol region but none since

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Reposted by @howardtaffs.bsky.social

Dave Goulson @davegoulson.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

I'm talking about "Saving Our Insects", this Sunday, Clevedon, Somerset, last few tickets available!

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

A planned two day visit to Poole for hoverflies was spoilt by steady rain today. So I went and watched a Bluethroat and saw some Early Spider Orchids that were near to my accommodation

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howardtaffs.bsky.social @howardtaffs.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Must be a big local arrival today. 2 at Dowlais plus one in the Gordano Valley whilst doing a butterfly transect this afternoon. All singing males. Lots at Sand Point too apparently

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