Port and Wey: 24 Jul 17

Wakeham
The Peregrine Falcons were back over the cottage this morning, as were 3 House Martins, 2 Swallows and 2 Swifts.

On the Nasturtiums in the back garden there were 3 species of hoverfly: - Marmalade (Episyrphus balteatus), White-footed Hoverfly (Platycheirus albimanus) and Syrphus ribesii, plus 1 female and 3 male Speckled Bush-crickets (Leptophyes punctatissima), a Semaphore fly (Poecilobothrus nobilitatus) and a Hover Fly Parasite (Diplazon laetatorius).

This afternoon I came across a Common Toad in the garden as I was sorting out the flower beds. My first on the island.

A Swift. You can just about make out the pale patch under the throat, honest.

My first Toad..........

.........on the island.

The side-profile of a male Poecilobothrus nobilitatus. This fly was one of the species in the Name a Species 2012 competition and won the lovely English name of Semaphore fly. Clusters of males may dance around single females, which lack the white wing marks.

When I lived in Swindon I use to find Semaphore Flies on my pond. More Here.

A schematic illustration of signal display showing a. Lightening of the rapidly moved wing tip and (b) increase of signal contrast through white wing tips and through (c) white wing tips with black zones on the apex. (Courtesy of Behavioural Ecology, Oxford Journals)