A large hoverfly, likely - and I'm very happy to be corrected - a Volucella zonaria (Hornet mimic hoverfly), feeding on a blooming pink thistle flower. The insect’s reddish-brown thorax, large reddish compound eyes, and clear wings with dark margins are clearly visible. It’s perched on a vibrant thistle head with unopened buds nearby.
Shot at Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust Brockholes in Samlesbury, near Preston, UK.
#MyPhoto #MyWork #photo #photography #HornetMimicHoverfly #VolucellaZonaria #hoverfly #Syrphidae #Mimicry #ReddishEyes #DarkWingMargins #PinkFlower #Thistle #pollinator #insect #CloseUp #GrasslandHabitat #nature #wildlife #outdoors #summer #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #InsectPhotography #InsectsOfMastodon #InsectsOfPixelfed #WildlifeTrust #Samlesbury #Preston #Brockholes #OC

Peacock butterfly (Aglais io) feeding on a pink thistle flower with its wings closed, revealing the dark, cryptic undersides which resemble dried leaves or bark. The antennae and body are clearly visible, and the butterfly is perched upright on the flowerhead.
Shot at Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust Brockholes in Samlesbury, near Preston, UK.
#MyPhoto #MyWork #photo #photography #Peacock #AglaisIo #butterfly #lepidoptera #DarkWingUnderside #CrypticCamouflage #ThistleFlower #PinkFlower #GrasslandHabitat #insect #pollinator #CloseUp #summer #outdoors #nature #wildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #InsectPhotography #InsectsOfMastodon #InsectsOfPixelfed #ButterflyPhotography #ButterfliesOfMastodon #ButterfliesOfPixelfed #WildlifeTrust #Samlesbury #Preston #Brockholes #OC

Female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum), perched on the dried seedhead of a plantain or similar wildflower. She has a pale yellowish thorax with muted markings and clear wings with visible venation. Its abdomen is slim and shows hints of pale brown and grey striping.
Shot at Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust Brockholes in Samlesbury, near Preston, UK.
#MyPhoto #MyWork #photo #photography #CommonDarter #SympetrumStriolatum #dragonfly #female #odonata #ClearWings #YellowThorax #StripedAbdomen #FemaleDarter #DriedSeedhead #GrasslandHabitat #insect #predator #CloseUp #nature #wildlife #outdoors #summer #WildlifeTrust #Samlesbury #Preston #Brockholes #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #InsectPhotography #InsectsOfMastodon #InsectsOfPixelfed #OC

Male Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) perched on the top of a weathered wooden signpost. it's facing slightly downward, mid-step, with its black talons gripping the wood and its plumage showing mottled reddish-brown upper parts and barred underparts.
Shot at Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside Wildlife Trust Brockholes in Samlesbury, near Preston, UK.
#MyPhoto #MyWork #photo #photography #CommonKestrel #FalcoTinnunculus #kestrel #male #BirdOfPrey #raptor #BrownAndGreyBird #YellowFeet #PublicFootpath #WoodenSignpost #countryside #HuntingBird #predator #perching #outdoors #nature #wildlife #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfMastodon #BirdsOfPixelfed #MastoBirds #PixelBirds #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #WildlifeTrust #Samlesbury #Preston #Brockholes #OC

A female Common #Darter (#Sympetrum #striolatum) #dragonfly perched with wings outstretched on a dried grass head in the sunshine. Captured at #Brockholes #Lancashire, #Manchester and #NorthMerseyside #WildlifeTrust Nature Reserve at #Samlesbury, #Preston in the #UK.
#photography #insect #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #insectphotography #predator #green #brown #macro #outdoors #summer #sunshine #bokeh #OC

An adult Grey #Heron (#Ardea #cinerea) stalking through the scrubby meadow at #ChesireWildlifeTrust #Brockholes #NatureReserve in #Samlesbury #Preston, #UK.
#photography #bird #birdphotography #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #environment #hunter #predator #outdoors #summer #OC

Goth AF! A #Peacock #butterfly (#AglaisIo) showing the dark underside of its wing as it feeds from a thistle flower. Captured at #Brockholes Nature reserve, #Samlesbury, #Preston, #UK.
#photography #insect #insectphotography #nature #naturephotography #wildlife #wildlifephotography #antennae #proboscis #thistle #sunshine #summer #green #pink #black #environment #bokeh #OC