Still lots of hoverflies, bees and wasps here, with a Gooden's Nomad Bee flying from leaf to leaf and a Common Wasp basking in the sun. Also about on Russian Comfrey Hairy-footed Flower Bees.
In the wood a male Blackcap and Chiffchaff were both singing.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church a new species for me on the island with 2 Fever-flies (Dilophus febrilis)
Here are a few images from today:
The Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x Uplandicum) is a big hit with the Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes).
........which could quite easily be mistaken for a St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci). The main difference is that this female Fever-fly is not as hairy and has tinted wings unlike the St Mark's Fly smoky appearance.
This is Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum) and also goes under its other names of Red Robin, Death come quickly, Storksbill, Fox Geranium, Stinking Bob, Squinter-pip, Crow's Foot, or Roberts Geranium. This one was on the steps on the way up to Rufus Castle from Church Ope Cove. More on this Cranes-bill Here
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.
Also seen: Wall Lizard, 5 Large White, 2 Small White, 2 Comma, Epistrophe eligans, Yellow-legged Mining-bee (Andrena flavipes), Syrphus torvus, Fever-fly (Dilophus febrilis), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Common Wasp and Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes).
Here are a few images from today:
The hoverfly Epistrophe eligans
Common Wasp basking on a Japonica leaf.
An Early Mining Bee, Andrena haemorrhoa
St Andrew's Church grounds in the lovely Spring sun.
More hoverflies Epistrophe eligans here.
This is a Fever-fly (Dilophus febrilis)..........
Another hoverfly Epistrophe eligans...........
..........with a Syrphus torvus
A Yellow-legged Mining-bee (Andrena flavipes)
A juvenile Wall Lizard
On the way back home a Peregrine Falcon overhead.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Carrion Crow, Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.