Wakeham Wood, Wakeham Paddock, Lower Horse Paddocks, Upper Horse Paddocks and Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly Reserve (West Side)
Another beautiful sunny day and for the first time in ages, it was a jacket off walk.
Not one highlight today but 3 really good ones, with a male Common Redstart and a male Pied Flycatcher just off the track here, north of Wakeham Wood, and 2 singing Sedge Warblers to the east of the Upper Horse Paddocks at Easton Here. There was possibly a 3rd non-singing bird with them.
Also noted on my walk were a Common Whitethroat and Blackcap in Wakeham Wood, and in the Butterfly Reserve 2 more Common Whitethroats.
Overhead a Common Buzzard was a target for a very noisy Peregrine Falcon. Several times it dive bombed the Buzzard until it was happy it wasn't a threat.
Lots of butterflies today with 2 Wall Browns in the Butterfly Reserve, and 10+ Large Whites and as many Orange-tips in the Wakeham Paddock.
Also 2 Narcissus Bulb Flies and a new fact I wasn't aware of. See bottom of page.
Here are a few images and 2 sound tracks (videos) from today:
A short song burst from a male Common Redstart.
The Upper Horse Paddock at the end of Moorfield Road. In the Hawthorn tree (centre of picture) there were 2 Sedge Warblers and 3rd bird in the bush to the right.
One of the 2 singing Sedge Warblers within the bushes here. A 3rd non-singing bird was close-by.
On my travels I came across 2 hoverflies which at first glance looked like Mimic Bee Hoverflies. Both were the same size as each other but with different colourations. So perhaps Volucella plumata and Volucella bombylans. However it was their smaller size that got me thinking they were something else.
Another beautiful sunny day and for the first time in ages, it was a jacket off walk.
Not one highlight today but 3 really good ones, with a male Common Redstart and a male Pied Flycatcher just off the track here, north of Wakeham Wood, and 2 singing Sedge Warblers to the east of the Upper Horse Paddocks at Easton Here. There was possibly a 3rd non-singing bird with them.
Also noted on my walk were a Common Whitethroat and Blackcap in Wakeham Wood, and in the Butterfly Reserve 2 more Common Whitethroats.
Overhead a Common Buzzard was a target for a very noisy Peregrine Falcon. Several times it dive bombed the Buzzard until it was happy it wasn't a threat.
Lots of butterflies today with 2 Wall Browns in the Butterfly Reserve, and 10+ Large Whites and as many Orange-tips in the Wakeham Paddock.
Also 2 Narcissus Bulb Flies and a new fact I wasn't aware of. See bottom of page.
Here are a few images and 2 sound tracks (videos) from today:
Wakeham Horse Paddock and in the top right hand corner there was a male Common Redstart singing.
A short song burst from a male Common Redstart.
A few minutes later it flew up into this Sycamore Tree where I was surprised to see a male Pied Flycatcher as well.
One of the 3 Sedge Warblers passing through on migration.
One of the 2 singing Sedge Warblers within the bushes here. A 3rd non-singing bird was close-by.
In the same bush as one of the Sedge Warblers a Goldfinch keeps a wary eye on me.
Above me a Peregrine Falcon sees off a Buzzard.
One of the 2 Wall Browns in the Butterfly Reserve.
And Finally
In fact using Social Media I was informed that both were Narcissus Bulb Flies, Merodon equestris, and like Volucella have 2 forms - Merodon equestris form bulborum and the other Merodon equestris form narcissi. And I thought ID'ing moths was difficult.
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Common Redstart, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Wall Browns, 2 Peacock, 10+ Large Whites and as many Orange-tips.
Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and several Early Mining Bees (Andrena haemorrhoa)
Hoverflies Recorded: Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris - form narcissi) and Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris form bulborum)
So this is Merodon equestris form narcissi
And this is Merodon equestris form bulborum
Birds Recorded: Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Dunnock, Robin, 1 Common Redstart, Blackbird, Song Thrush, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap, 1 Pied Flycatcher, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Wall Browns, 2 Peacock, 10+ Large Whites and as many Orange-tips.
Bees Recorded: Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and several Early Mining Bees (Andrena haemorrhoa)
Hoverflies Recorded: Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris - form narcissi) and Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris form bulborum)
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On this day..........
2018Today's Sightings Here.