30 Apr 19

Wakeham Wood, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church and Mermaid Track

A cloudy and slightly chilly morning, with the occasional glimpse of the sun. Main highlight was a Garden Warbler singing in Wakeham Wood by the track. Also here 2 Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler. This little green belt is turning into a bit of a bird oasis at the moment. Sad that this lovely spot has been sold and could possibly see a bungalow built on it. 😢

Very quiet in Penns Wood and St Andrew's Church, with very few bees and hoverflies on the wing in the cool conditions.

In Penns Copse another emergence of Green Long-horn moths and a good 20+ on the Sycamore leaves. Also here a few Ashy Mining Bees and a Carnation Tortrix moths.

By Rufus Castle there was a Common Green Shieldbug and a Grey-patched Mining Bee sat on the Sycamore leaves. Also in the same area a single Celery Fly.

Along the Mermaid track 2 Bloody-nosed Beetles and a very vocal Blackcap with some interesting notes in amongst his song. Unfortunately he flew off before I could record it. Also here another Carnation Tortrix moth.

Here are a few images and a sound track of a Garden Warbler:

The track alongside Wakeham Wood, where today there was a Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler all singing.


Garden Warbler (courtesy of Xeno-canto).

In the field close by a Robin on the lookout.

Still lots of these Brown-tail Moth caterpillars about.


In the grounds of St Andrew's Church there was this Harlequin Ladybird on a spent Alexanders.

On the beach at Church Ope Cove a Great Black-backed Gull looks on as a Herring Gull snatches a piece of meat. Possibly a fish!!

In Penns Copse there was another emergence of Green-longhorn moths.

Stunning moths........

...........and those antennae are huge.

A Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa).

Also in the copse a Dead Head Fly.

In the background stands the Sycamore close to Rufus Castle. Today there was a.........

Grey-patched Mining Bee..........

.......and a Common Green Shieldbug sat on the leaves.

Close by my one and only Celery Fly seen today, plus........

.........this lone Brown-tail Moth caterpillar on its travels.

Along the Mermaid track another Early Mining Bee.......

.......a Bloody-nosed Beetle and this........

........Carnation Tortrix moth.

And finally a very small plant with very petite pink flowers. This is Lambs Lettuce (Valerianella locusta) and is also known as Corn Salad. More on this flower here.

Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird. 2 Song Thrush, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Reptiles Recorded: None

Bees Recorded: Gooden's Nomad Bee (Nomada goodeniana), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius), Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria)

Butterflies Recorded: None

Hoverflies Recorded: Dead Head Fly (Myathropa florea)

Moths Recorded: 20+ Green-longhorn Moths (Adela reaumurella) and 2 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana)

Flies Recorded: Celery Fly (Euleia heraclei)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 3 Bloody-nosed Beetles (Timarcha tenebricosa)

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On this day..........
2018
Today's Sightings Here.