Today started off cloudy, but by mid afternoon, the clouds dispersed to leave a nice sunny end to the day. Main highlight of my walk was the juvenile Sparrowhawk still calling and exercising its wings close to Penn's Wood. Also about a few more Chiffchaffs calling.
A lot fewer butterflies seen today, with just 4 Common Blues, 2 Large Whites, 2 Green-veined Whites and a solitary Meadow Brown.
There might have been fewer butterflies, but there seems to be a lot more bees about with Small Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum), Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Cuckoo-bee (Bombus rupestris), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and Honey Bees. Also seen was one of the Nomad Bees, which sadly will have to remain as Nomada sp. as it wouldn't settle.
Quite a few hoverflies about, mainly Marmalade (Episyrphus balteatus), plus Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea), a Xylota segnis and a hoverfly which I could only see head-on. As I moved into a better position a fly almost landed on it and spooked it.
In the grounds of St Andrew's Church were 2 Wall Lizards, with one sunbathing on the ivy.
Also recorded was the larvae of a Harlequin Ladybird and a Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa).
Just the one Meadow Brown seen today. This one was in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
A male Common Blue along the Mermaids Track.
A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)..........
........also known as the Large Earth Bumblebee.
A Common Carder Bee.
An unusual looking hoverfly which goes by the name of Xylota segnis. It doesn't have a common name.
My mystery hoverfly. All I can say is, it was a striking yellow and black!!
A Wall Lizard sunbathing on the Ivy.
And another in its more natural surroundings. Both in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.
This brightly coloured bug is in fact the larvae of the Harlequin Ladybird.
And always great characters to see as they trundle along the pathways, a Bloody-nosed Beetle.