With lots of repair work being done to our cottage, it has meant that over the past week or so I have only been able to do short walks in the local area, so that I can be on call if the builder needs a hand. Fortunately across the road there is a gate here, that opens up into Wakeham Wood and a nearby meadow.
Both the wood and meadow are just full of wildlife and today was no exception, with an interesting leaf beetle I found, called the Artichoke Beetle, Sphaeroderma testaceum. In fact there were several in a small patch in the meadow and a new one for me on Portland.
Also in the meadow were 8 Meadow Brown butterflies, 1 Common Blue and a Garden Grass-veneer moth.
Close to the wood along the track I found the unmistakable yellow and black-spotted 22 Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) and two ladybird larvae. Both the latter were distinctly different in colour and pattern and those from the Harlequin Ladybird.
Also along the track was another Common Blue, a Holly Blue and a Meadow Brown, plus the Bee Orchid which is looking looking fantastic. A Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris form bulborum) was flying along the track and I managed one record shot as it landed well in front of me.
A few birds about and what was very noticeable were the number of noisy youngsters, which included juvenile Blackbirds, at least 2 juvenile Song Thrushes and a juvenile Robin. Overhead 2 House Martin's were busy catching flies on the wing.
Here are a few images from this afternoon:
The meadow.
A worn looking Common Blue
One of 8 Meadow Browns hiding in the grass.
Only the one Garden Grass-veneer seen today.
Two Artichoke Beetles and very tiny.
The track alongside Wakeham Wood.
Along the track the Bee Orchid is looking really good.
A close-up of the flower. You can see how it got its name.
A Swollen-thighed Beetle
A distant shot of a Narcissus Bulb Fly, Merodon equestris form bulborum
Another Common Blue.
You can just about make out the pattern on the underwing.
22 Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata). Not a ladybird you are likely to overlook.
This final instar nymph of a Red-legged Shieldbug, Pentatoma rufipes and.......
...........looks absolutely nothing like the adult. More info on this Shieldbug Here.
I don't think he was too happy with me pointing my camera at him and started to become quite defensive.
A ladybird larvae.
And another totally different colour and pattern. Both are Harlequin Ladybird larvae. More on ladybird larvae Here.
Not a Common Blue but a Holly Blue
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, House Martin, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.
Butterflies Recorded: 2 Common Blue, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Speckled Wood and 9 Meadow Brown.
Moths Recorded: 1 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees, Common Carder, Red-tailed Bumblebee
Hoverflies Recorded: 5 Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and a Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris form bulborum)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Lesser Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Ischnomera cyanea), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), 22 Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata), 7+ Artichoke Beetle (Sphaeroderma testaceum), 1 Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes) and 2 Harlequin Ladybird larvae.
Grasshoppers and Crickets Recorded: Dark Bush-cricket nymphs (Pholidoptera griseoaptera)