With the forecast of rain, I opted to visit the meadows again this morning. As I started my walk in really humid conditions, it was no surprise when a fine drizzle began to fall. Fortunately that's all it was and I was able to do my favoured route I have established around the meadows, track and wood.
A real criss-cross of a walk, but one amazing habitat for invertebrates.
Looking east and back down the track. #1
The gate in the distance is at position #2 on the photo above and gives you access to the meadow.
On the other side of the fence is another meadow, which is destined to field a few horses I believe. #3
And finally the brambles next to Wakeham Wood #4
Just loving this location for my local walks, especially when I just keep on finding new bugs and beetles. Today I came across a Darkling beetle called a Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta). Apparently it gets its name hirta from the Latin hirtus meaning rough hair or rough wool, referring to the coarse, fuzzy appearance of the beetle. And I nearly forgot to mention a new species for me on Portland.
And wasn't just the Rough-haired Lagria Beetle that was new for me on Portland but also a Green Tortoise Beetle (Cassida Viridis) and a Straw-barred Pearl moth I found in the meadow.
Also noted today and of interest were a Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing from around the wood. Neither species has been heard for a few weeks, as I suspect they have been busy feeding youngsters.
Here are a few images from this morning.
And another new moth for me on Portland...........
............this time a very worn Straw-barred Pearl. These meadows are really ticking the boxes for moths etc.
This is a Common Carder Bee, Bombus pascuorum and judging by.............
................by its size I would say this is a male. So small!!!
Ichneumon Wasp, Amblyteles armatorius..........
............and another.........
........and one more. In fact I recorded 5 today.
No guesses as to how this hoverfly got its name. A Long Hoverfly, Sphaerophoria scripta
Dock Bug
A final instar nymph of a Red-legged Shieldbug
Dark Bush-cricket
The Tachinidae fly, Thelaira nigripes
The Lackey Moth caterpillar
A Mullein Moth caterpillar
This is Wild Teasel, Dipsacus fullonum and............
............a death trap for insects when full of rain water.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 2 Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow and Chaffinch.
Moths Recorded: 5 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella), 1 Hook-streak Grass-veneer (Crambus lathoniellus), 2 Six-Spot Burnet Moth and a Straw-barred Pearl (Pyrausta despicata)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees, Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and Garden Bumblebee (Bombus hortorum)
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: 5 Amblyteles armatorius
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) and a Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Flies Recorded: 1 Tachinidae fly (Thelaira nigripes)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Lesser Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Ischnomera cyanea), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis), 1 possible Common Green Shieldbug nymph (Palomena prasina), 1 7-spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata), a final instar nymph of a Red-legged Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes), 1 Soldier Beetle (Malthinus flaveolus), 1 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus), a Green Tortoise Beetle (Cassida Viridis) and a Rough-haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis) and a Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)
Grasshoppers and Crickets Recorded: Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera)
Moth Caterpillars Recorded: 1 The Lackey and 1 Mullein