Vic Brown
@viccbrown.bsky.social
Entomologist/Ecologist/Birder/Cook/Grandad
#BirdOfTheDay is #Gannets.
Here's a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) that I photographed near the Broch of Gurness, Mainland, Orkney in June.
Here's a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) that I photographed near the Broch of Gurness, Mainland, Orkney in June.
November 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
#BirdOfTheDay is #Gannets.
Here's a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) that I photographed near the Broch of Gurness, Mainland, Orkney in June.
Here's a Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) that I photographed near the Broch of Gurness, Mainland, Orkney in June.
They are cute looking, though the little masked bandits will nick your lunch if given a chance. Here's one I photographed in Costa Rica in February.
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
They are cute looking, though the little masked bandits will nick your lunch if given a chance. Here's one I photographed in Costa Rica in February.
#BirdOfTheDay is on the theme #OnTheEdge
Here's an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) on the edge of the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia.
Here's an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) on the edge of the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia.
November 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
#BirdOfTheDay is on the theme #OnTheEdge
Here's an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) on the edge of the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia.
Here's an Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) on the edge of the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia.
The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #GroundedGulls
Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) from my trip to Queensland two years ago.
Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) from my trip to Queensland two years ago.
November 21, 2025 at 11:22 AM
The #BirdOfTheDay theme is #GroundedGulls
Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) from my trip to Queensland two years ago.
Silver Gulls (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) from my trip to Queensland two years ago.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #Thrushes
With so many colourful birds to choose from (parrots, hummingbirds, toucans, etc), it's heartening that the National Bird of Costa Rica is the Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi).
With so many colourful birds to choose from (parrots, hummingbirds, toucans, etc), it's heartening that the National Bird of Costa Rica is the Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi).
November 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay is #Thrushes
With so many colourful birds to choose from (parrots, hummingbirds, toucans, etc), it's heartening that the National Bird of Costa Rica is the Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi).
With so many colourful birds to choose from (parrots, hummingbirds, toucans, etc), it's heartening that the National Bird of Costa Rica is the Clay-coloured Thrush (Turdus grayi).
Tromatobia lineatoria, an ichneumonid wasp on Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden yesterday. This species lays her eggs in spider egg sacs, which are then predated by the larvae.
A new species for my garden, there's certainly plenty of spiders in the Ivy.
A new species for my garden, there's certainly plenty of spiders in the Ivy.
November 18, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Tromatobia lineatoria, an ichneumonid wasp on Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden yesterday. This species lays her eggs in spider egg sacs, which are then predated by the larvae.
A new species for my garden, there's certainly plenty of spiders in the Ivy.
A new species for my garden, there's certainly plenty of spiders in the Ivy.
November 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Just the one on the Fatsia in my S. Cambridgeshire garden today.
November 8, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Just the one on the Fatsia in my S. Cambridgeshire garden today.
I saw lots of a similar looking beefly in Noosa N.P., Queensland, Australia, a couple of years ago. I have no idea of their ID beyond family, though.
October 28, 2025 at 10:12 PM
I saw lots of a similar looking beefly in Noosa N.P., Queensland, Australia, a couple of years ago. I have no idea of their ID beyond family, though.
They are frequent here, in and around my S. Cambridgeshire village. Especially on Wild Carrot and Devil's Bit Scabious in late summer and on Ivy in my garden in autumn.
October 28, 2025 at 8:09 PM
They are frequent here, in and around my S. Cambridgeshire village. Especially on Wild Carrot and Devil's Bit Scabious in late summer and on Ivy in my garden in autumn.
Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis).
La Gola, Port de Pollença, Mallorca.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
La Gola, Port de Pollença, Mallorca.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
October 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Audouin's Gull (Ichthyaetus audouinii) and Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis).
La Gola, Port de Pollença, Mallorca.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
La Gola, Port de Pollença, Mallorca.
#SuperSeabirdSunday
A Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) seen briefly in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon. This is late in the year, it's undoubtedly a 3rd brood individual.
October 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
A Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus) seen briefly in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon. This is late in the year, it's undoubtedly a 3rd brood individual.
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?
October 2, 2025 at 4:59 PM
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?
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.
October 1, 2025 at 7:44 PM
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.
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.
October 1, 2025 at 7:39 PM
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.
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.
September 27, 2025 at 9:33 PM
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.
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.
However, they're less frequently seen in S. Cambridgeshire. This obliging male yesterday was only my third garden record.
September 22, 2025 at 8:15 AM
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.
However, they're less frequently seen in S. Cambridgeshire. This obliging male yesterday was only my third garden record.
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.
On Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon.
September 21, 2025 at 7:46 PM
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.
On Ivy in my S. Cambridgeshire garden this afternoon.
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.
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.
September 19, 2025 at 8:10 PM
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.
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.
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.
September 16, 2025 at 7:37 PM
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.
My 8th record of the Ivy Longhorn Hoverfly in the past seven days. After 7 females, it was good to finally spot a male.
September 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
My 8th record of the Ivy Longhorn Hoverfly in the past seven days. After 7 females, it was good to finally spot a male.
Spotted this Messerschmitt Bf 109 over the garden this morning. I presume it's Nigel Farage flying back to Clacton from the Reform conference?
September 7, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Spotted this Messerschmitt Bf 109 over the garden this morning. I presume it's Nigel Farage flying back to Clacton from the Reform conference?
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
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
September 6, 2025 at 12:21 PM
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
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
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.
It took me about 10 seconds.
So, I think you're probably correct.
September 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM
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.
It took me about 10 seconds.
So, I think you're probably correct.
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.
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.
September 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
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.
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.