9 Jul 25

Wakeham

It sure looks like we are in for some really hot weather over the next few days and today was pretty warm. So much so that Ted and I stayed at home where there was plenty of shade and water.

It was also a day where I invited a local architect to oversee the groundwork and building, of a shed and a summerhouse-like structure at the back of the garden. Hopefully, if all goes well, we well be using both facilities before this Autumn.

So what was in the garden today.

And it was good to see that there was a Pellitory Beauty Cosmopterix pulchrimella in ............

.............the same spot where I saw one a few days back. This is possibly a male displaying.

A Honey Bee Apis mellifera approaches the Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.

And the............

..................Willughby's Leafcutter Bee Megachile willughbiella is still visiting the lavender.

A Vagrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae..............

..................on an Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare.

On this Crown Daisy Glebionis coronaria is a Thick-legged hoverfly Syritta pipiens

A Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus.

And this a Chalk Snailkiller Dichetophora obliterata and a new addition to my Port & Wey list. More on this fly here.

And this is a Big-spot Anthomyia Anthomyia procellaris

Also on an Oxeye Daisy was this Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus.

A bit of shade for Ted.

8 Jul 25

Wakeham

It was a busy day at home so here are a few photos from the garden when I had a couple of breaks.

This years growth of Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria is pretty impressive and don't the bees just love it, especially the Honey Bees Apis mellifera

In the wildflower patch were a..............

................. few Small Whites Pieris rapae. This individual has seen better days.

A Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta on the Lavender.

And as I was sat in one of the garden chairs............

........this Hummingbird Hawk-moth Macroglossum stellatarum zoomed in and started nectaring on the Buddleia Buddleja davidii. And within less than 30 seconds was gone.

A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum approaches the Lavender Lavandula sp.

Also on the Lavender was this Garden Bumblebee Bombus hortorum

A Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus. And another..........

...........hoverfly I came across was.............

...................... this Lesser Bulb Fly Eumerus funeralis

A Syrphus sp.

This is one...............

................of the Dolichopodidae family of  Long-legged flies

And also in the wildflower patch, and sat in the centre of this Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare was this Common Nettle Flower Bug Plagiognathus arbustorum.

7 Jul 25

Wakeham

It was another day in the garden, this time mowing the lawn, trimming, pruning and tidying up. As it was yesterday there were two adult House Martins and a juvenile overhead.

Birds Recorded:

Herring Gulls
3 House Martin

Every year since we've been here on Portland the resident Herring Gulls, from a few doors down, have bred very successfully. This year is no exception and these two juveniles look like they have done pretty well to survive the intense heat we have had recently. Mind you with all that guano around them I think I would have left the nest by now.

Amphibians Recorded:
1 Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus - in the "Tractor Tyre" pond


Butterflies Recorded:
5 Large White Pieris brassicae
2 Small White Pieris rapae
1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

Moths Recorded:

Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba 

A Large Yellow Underwing Noctua pronuba I disturbed in one of the flowerbeds.

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Honey Bee Apis mellifera

Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum
Willughby's Leafcutter Bee Megachile willughbiella

And peering over the lavender is...........

...........a Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

And a Willughby's Leafcutter Bee Megachile willughbiella. A species I first came across in the May 2018.

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
1 Wasp sp.

A wasp sp.

Hoverflies Recorded:
12+ Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus

1 Migrant Hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis
1 Vagrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae

1 Thick-legged hoverfly Syritta pipiens

1 Syrphus sp.

A Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus......................

.................And another. In fact..........

.......................it was quite a good day for Marmalade Hoverflies with a good dozen or so seen.

And a Migrant Hoverfly Meliscaeva auricollis sat on Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaicais

Vagrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae

A Thick-legged hoverfly Syritta pipiens which also goes by the name of Compost Hoverfly

A Syrphus sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies.


Bugs and Beetles Recorded:

Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes - deceased
3 Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum

Obsidentify is 85% sure that this is a Strawberry Seed Beetle Harpalus rufipes. I found it deceased in the back garden.

Three Common Flower Bugs Anthocoris nemorum. I suspect there are two males trying to mate with a female!!

6 Jul 25

Wakeham

It was a lazy day spent in the garden, with the odd occasion when I got up from my seat and had a look to see what was about.

Amphibians Recorded:
1 Palmate Newt Lissotriton helveticus


Butterflies Recorded:
4 Large White Pieris brassicae
3 Small White Pieris rapae
1 Green-veined White Pieris napi
1 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta

A Large White Pieris brassicae which flew into the conservatory momentarily.

A Green-veined White Pieris napi

Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lapidarius
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum

Colletes sp.

A Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum on Lavender Lavandula sp.

I'm beginning to wonder whether there is just the one Colletes sp. that keeps visiting the garden. I have only ever seen one at anytime. Surely there must be others!!

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
1 Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris
1 wasp sp.

A Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

A Wasp sp. Well...........

...............I presume it is.

I managed a video of it as it entered this piece of bark and then exited it. But I'm still non the wiser as to what species it is.

Sawflies Recorded:
Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae

A Turnip Sawfly Athalia rosae in flight.

Hoverflies Recorded:
3 The Footballer Helophilus pendulus
1 Woodland Bulb Fly Eumerus ornatus

Syrphus sp.

The Footballer Helophilus pendulus on.........

...............the "Tractor Tyre" Pond......

.............Here is another one. This time on a lily in the "Bath" Pond. And .......

..........one more. This hoverfly is also known as the Tiger Marsh Fly.

This hoverfly is a Vagrant Hoverfly Eupeodes corollae

A Woodland Bulb Fly Eumerus ornatus

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
1 Small Beegrabber Thecophora atra

1 Giant Bristleshin Phaonia valida

Greenbottle Lucilia sp.
#1 - fly sp.

#2 - fly sp.

And a new addition to my Port and Wey list. This is a Small Beegrabber Thecophora atra

This a Giant Bristleshin Phaonia valida and another new fly for my list.

A Greenbottle Lucilia sp. on a California Poppy Eschscholzia californica

#1 - fly sp.

#2 - fly sp.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus
Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus

A Potato Capsid Closterotomus norwegicus on an Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

A Common Nettle Bug Liocoris tripustulatus.........................

......................... on the leaves of the Pellitory-of-the-wall Parietaria judaicais

A Common Flower Bug Anthocoris nemorum also on an Oxeye Daisy