2 May 19

Wakeham Wood, Perryfields Butterfly Reserve, Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Penns Copse and Mermaid Track

Another murky morning and though the sun did come out later, it did feel chilly. Main highlights today were the number of warblers I came across with 2 Blackcaps, a Common Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler along the Mermaid Track.

Elsewhere there was a Blackcap and a Chiffchaff singing behind Church Ope Cove, plus a very songful Blackcap in Penns Copse. There were 2 Common Whitethroat on Penns Weare and another singing by Bottom Combe Quarry.

A Herring Gull was tackling a live crab on the beach at Church Ope Cove, which it eventually devoured.

No butterflies again today, but there was a new emergence of Green-longhorn moths on Penns Weare, close to the copse.

Not to many hoverflies either just a handful of syrphus sp. and 2 Epistrophe eligans. All in the grounds of St Andrew's Church.

A couple of Bloody-nosed Beetles on the tracks at Penns Weare and one on the Mermaid Track.

I also came across an Ichneumon Wasp I've not seen before. After a bit of research it could possibly be an Alomya debellator.

Here are a few photos from today:

I'm pretty sure this an Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) which was in Wakeham Wood

Still a lot of Brown-tail Moth caterpillars about and also at different stages of growth. These were along the track close to Perryfields Butterfly Reserve.

An Epistrophe eligans hoverfly in the grounds of St Andrew's Church

Looking down onto the beach from Penns Weare I spotted this Herring Gull trying to get to grips with this crab.

It did eventually overcome those claws. An odd looking crab, possibly a small Spiny Spider Crab.

The track leading through Penns Copse where there was a second......

.......emergence of Green-longhorn moths.

There are few Bloody-nosed Beetles out now.

This one appears to be scaling this stem for a higher advantage point.

A very noticeable Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida).......

........especially with the contrast between its reddish thorax, black abdomen and fully laden yellow pollen sacs.

Had to get one photo in of my favourite fly - The Celery Fly

And my mystery Ichneumon Wasp. A shot without Flash...............

...........and the other with. Possibly an Alomya debellator

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 4 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch.

Reptiles Recorded: None

Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida) and an Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa).

Butterflies Recorded: None

Moths Recorded: 10 Green-longhorn Moths (Adela reaumurella)

Hoverflies Recorded: Syrphus sp. and 2 Epistrophe eligans
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 2 Bloody-nosed Beetles (Timarcha tenebricosa)

Also Recorded: Celery Flies (Euleia heraclei) and an Ichneumon Wasp sp.

Wakeham

This afternoon, in the Sycamore at the back of the garden this Kestrel was having a good look into the back garden.


You can just about make out the Kestrel in the Sycamore.

He was having a good old look one way..........

........and the other!!

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