23 Jul 18

Wakeham

A day chilling out in the back garden and as always there was plenty to see, with several butterflies on the buddleia and valerian and a Common Darter by the pond. Butterflies recorded were Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Large White and Small White.

A couple of interesting moths to go with the Silver Y I disturbed in the vegetable plot and they were a Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) and an Eucosma campoliliana (Marbled Bell). The latter flew out from the valerian as I cut back some of the old flower heads.

Also noted were a Pied Hoverfly and several Marmalade Hoverflies.

A few bees about with Red-tailed Cuckoo-bee, Common Carder Bee and Honey Bee.

Also seen were 2 Common Wasps, a 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) and 2 Common Field Grasshoppers (Chorthippus brunneus)

Overhead throughout the day were several Swifts and House Martins, whilst on the feeders a couple of juvenile Blue Tits were helping themselves to the sunflower seeds.

Here are a few images from today.

A Common Darter, could this be my first male on Portland. Albeit an immature.

Common Carder Bee

Common Wasp

And another having a drink by the pond.

A 7-spot Ladybird

A Common Field Grasshopper (Chorthippus brunneus) on the neighbours garage wall

One of the many Marmalade hoverflies around the Cherry Tree.

A Mint Moth.....

......which was very flighty.

This is my first Eucosma campoliliana (Marbled Bell) on the island.

A juvenile Blue Tit

And a grab shot of one of the Swifts heading south over the island.