Alastair Swinnerton

Scriptwriter, Lego Bionicle co-creator & author of comedy fantasy novel 'The Flying Monk'.

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@BarrieWidden @YeovilBirder And it's still here, five years later

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@CarlBovisNature Congrats on making the BBC news!

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

This will be my last post on here, for the same reasons as millions of others recently. Find me on IG/FB/Threads, and more importantly on Bluesky, same handle as on here.

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@StevenFalk1 @BritishBugs @Buzz_dont_tweet @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife Thanks Steven!

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

This, I think, is a Grey-spotted Boxer, Platycheirus albimanus? All ID help gratefully accepted! @StevenFalk1 @BritishBugs @Buzz_dont_tweet @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@YeovilBirder @StevenFalk1 @BritishBugs @Buzz_dont_tweet @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife Thanks Oli. I've pretty much moved over to IG/Threads now, are you on either of those? A lot of people are migrating, hopefully the academics/naturalists will do so too soon.

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@StevenFalk1 @SomersetWT @BritishBugs I like to use vernacular names once I've checked out their authenticity, but I hadn't realised you named it, or that hoverflies got so small! I've recently become much more interested in photographing insects than birds, far more fascinating, and of course challenging.

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Tiny Gossamer Hoverfly, Baccha elongata, on Enchanter's Nightshade flower, Ninesprings earlier. Trying to get a decent photo of the flower, tricky as it's also tiny and only grows in shade, but I spotted the Baccha when reviewing the photos @SomersetWT @BritishBugs @StevenFalk1

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Tiny Chequered Hoverfly, Melanostoma scalare, Riverside Walk this morning. I know they're common, but it's a first for me @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife @Buzz_dont_tweet @StevenFalk1

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@DorsetWildlife @SomersetWT @BritishBugs @BumblebeeTrust Thanks Jack 😊

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Too hot to walk dogs, so pottered with the 70-300 + 12mm tube macro setup. Think these are European Dark Bee, Sweat Bee, Dark-palped Melinda and Backswimmer, but happy to be corrected! @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife @BritishBugs @BumblebeeTrust

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Anyone out there also using Threads? Thought I'd give it a try, if you happen to be passing... Oh, Longlegged Fly, Dolichopus ungulatus, on a reed, by the way #Threads #Instagram #TwitterNaturePhotography #TwitterNatureCommunity

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Using ext tube for macro also makes for fun abstract bokeh landscapes it seems. Dappled light in the woods, Riverside Walk this afternoon. @SomersetWT @LoveYeovil #bokeh #twitterlandscapephotography #TwitterNaturePhotography

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Sadly, this photo, while it is indeed a brilliant piece of photography by @evanvucci, as @dvdaltizer says in his thread, it will probably also get Trump elected.

[David Altizer @thumbnaildavid]

And, of course, my condolences to the spectator who was killed in the crossfire.

I am in total agreement with President Biden, who said, "There’s no place for this kind of violence in America. We must unite as one nation to condemn it."

Please pray for our country and the victims of this tragic assassination attempt.

5/5

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Nice chilled walk on the Ham Hill butterfly route. A goodly variety of butterflies, but also lots of Red Soldier Beetles, a Black-Striped Longhorn Beetle, and some lovely Pyramidal Orchids @UKCantharidae @NLonghornRS @BritishBugs @SomersetWT @britnats @Buzz_dont_tweet

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Unidentified fly deep inside a Bindweed flower, Yeovil Riverside Walk this morning @BritishBugs @StevenFalk1 @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife #TwitterNaturePhotography

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Young Dunnock having a bit of a sing on the Yeovil Riverside Walk this morning @SomersetWT @bto_somerset1 @DorsetWildlife @Natures_Voice

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

@savebutterflies @BCSomerset @BC_Dorset @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife 7 weeks later, seems the Cinnabar moth did indeed find the patch of Ragwort outside the Riverside Walk gate. Only 1 caterpillar, and it has ravaged the Ragwort, but nature has found a way! @savebutterflies @BC_Dorset @BCSomerset @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife @Buzz_dont_tweet

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Cinnabar Moth, Riverside Walk this morning. Sadly almost all of the Ragwort has gone, mostly as a casualty of the annual strimmerfest. One patch hangs on outside the gates, so hopefully she can find it. @savebutterflies @BCSomerset @BC_Dorset @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

Assorted small things on the Riverside Walk this morning. Silver-Ground Carpet, Yellow-Spotted Tortrix and Red-Spotted Plant Bug nymph, all tricky and all firsts @savebutterflies @BCSomerset @BC_Dorset @BritishBugs @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife

[Alastair Swinnerton @alswinn]

White-Legged Damselfly (immature male?), Yeovil Riverside Walk this morning @BDSdragonflies @SomersetWT @DorsetWildlife @Buzz_dont_tweet