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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 1d

That's a male. They're generally placid and well-behaved compared to workers.

Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 1d

The artist is Fred Brown (no relation). He's quite well-known for his large-scale work on the Yorkshire coast.
He did a wonderful recreation of Banksy's recent work on Scarborough beach a few weeks ago.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 6d

A female Stomorhina lunata, the Locust Blowfly on Aster in my S.Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon. I know that it's suspected that this species may be parasitising native Orthoptera in the UK and is not just migrant. Does anyone know if there's been any further updates on this?

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 7d

Two male Phasia hemiptera on the Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden today. The first, much larger individual was particularly striking, with the iridescence showing well when the light was at the right angle. The second, smaller one was much dabber.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 7d

A very smart, presumably, recently emerged female Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) on the Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden for the past two days. No doubt feeding, ready for the long journey south.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 11d

They are fairly abundant on the sandy soils where I live in S. Cambridgeshire. Usually, about half a dozen or so in my garden each day while the Ivy is flowering.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 12d

It's hard to get away with his underhand tactics when cameras and a crowd are watching your every move. Otherwise, he probably would be in Team USA.

Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 12d

Don't worry, as soon as Farage becomes President/Supreme Leader/Führer, he'll pardon them.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 17d

Sericomyia silentis (Yellow-barred Peat Hoverfly) is a fairly common hoverfy in wet peaty habitats, particularly in North & West UK.
However, they're less frequently seen in S. Cambridgeshire. This obliging male yesterday was only my third garden record.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 17d

European Hornet worker (Vespa crabo) on the right and female Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) on the left.
On Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 19d

The unseasonably warm weather brought a nice selection of butterflies on the Ivy in my S. Cambs garden today.

Painted Lady (my 1st garden record of the year).
Comma
Red Admiral (about 10 individuals).
Holly Blue (2nd or 3rd brood? Ovipositing on Ivy flower buds).
Also seen a Peacock.

Holly Blue. Either a late 2nd brood female or a 3rd brood? Observed ovipositing on Ivy flower buds.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 22d

About 8 Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies on the Ivy in my S. Cambs garden today. Pleased to see V. atalanta ab. millierei, a genetic aberration that lacks red pigmentation.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 27d

My 8th record of the Ivy Longhorn Hoverfly in the past seven days. After 7 females, it was good to finally spot a male.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · 29d

Yellow tarsi and an all dark thorax, Asian Hornet for me. Do report via the Asian Hornet Watch app.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 7

Spotted this Messerschmitt Bf 109 over the garden this morning. I presume it's Nigel Farage flying back to Clacton from the Reform conference?

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 6

Thanks

Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 6

S. Cambridgeshire 5/9/25.
A spider rescued from a Riverfly Monitoring sample at the village brook yesterday. ObsIdentify says it's a Clubiona sp.. Given the habitat, I think most likely C. phragmitis? Confirmation or correction is appreciated, thanks.
@britishspiders.bsky.social

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 6

Look what I've just found on the Cotoneaster by my front door.
It took me about 10 seconds.
So, I think you're probably correct.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 5

Interesting. A huge Cotoneaster (not sure of species) shrub in the front garden, by the front door, as well as Cotoneaster horizontalis on the other side.
The Ivy was in the back garden, where there's none.
I'll have to take a break from Callicera watching and have a look tomorrow.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 5

Great news, that's 13 miles away. I know they're regularly recorded about 6 miles away, in the other direction from me, at RSPB Sandy.
Anyone in this part of the UK should keep a keen eye on Ivy for the next month or two.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 5

Callicera spinolae, the Ivy Hoverfly, is one of the UK's rarest hoverflies, as well as one of the most spectacular.
This morning, I recorded a female on the Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire. This is the 5th consecutive year that I have seen this wonderful fly in my garden, four days earlier than before.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 4

Tatochila sp. (Family Pieridae).

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 4

My first sighting of Rhaphigaster nebulosa (Mottled Shieldbug), in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon. A recent arrival to our shores, with the first mainland record in London in 2010.
Following its rapid northwards expansion on the continent, it's doing the same here in the UK.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 2

Yes, they have bred in the past, but have not established.
Many are thought to have arrived with imported goods.
It isn't known how those seen this year have arrived, naturally or man-assisted.

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Vic Brown @viccbrown.bsky.social · Sep 2

There have been several UK sightings this summer. I recorded this male on 9th August and another on the 14th in my S. Cambridgeshire garden.

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