An afternoon visit for a change. It was a bit breezy but at least the sun was out. Main highlights were 3 Painted Lady's and a single Hummingbird Haw-moth in the cuttings. Judging by the pristine condition of the Lady's I suspect they were newly emerged butterflies and not migrants.
As always along the cuttings plenty of Small Blue Butterflies and plenty of male and female Swollen-thighed beetles. Also along the embankments were 2 Amblyteles armatorius Ichneumon Wasps, two unusual looking flies and a spider to ID. One of the flies could well be a Noon Fly, but I will check
In Wakeham Wood and the adjacent Meadow I came across a couple of butterfly species, a Meadow Brown and 2 Common Blue butterflies. In the Meadow itself was a Straw Conch (Cochylimorpha straminea) and in the brambles close by a Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella) both new for me on Portland.
There was an Alomya debellator Ichneumon Wasp and a Common Green Shieldbug.
Lots of photos today so more write ups with the images:
The old Easton Railway Cutting which saw.......
..........not one..............
............not two.............
...........but three pristine looking Painted Lady butterflies.
An excellent location for Small Blue Butterflies along here.
Also male Swollen-thighed Beetles and.......
.........females.
An odd looking spider. Looks similar to a Crab Spider!!
A fly to ID.
Here it is taking off. Shame I didn't have a faster shutter speed to freeze those wings.
The meadow close to Wakeham Wood.
And an insects view of its surroundings.
In their usual spot I came across 2 adult and 3 juvenile Slow-worms.
A Meadow Brown hiding in the grasses.
Also in the meadow was this very small white moth.
It is a Straw Conch (Cochylimorpha straminea) and a............
.........new moth species for me on Portland
A Mimic Bee Hoverfly. This is the species Volucella bombylans with a red tail.
Only by its size I'm going to say this is a Broad Centurian - Chloromyia formosa
Along the paths and hedgerows in Wakeham Wood were....
.......Common Blue Butterflies. I think this is a worn male........
.......and a female Common Blue.
An easy one a Common Green shieldbug.
I'm pretty sure this is an Alomya debellator Ichneumon Wasp
Reptiles Recorded: 5 Slow-worms
Butterflies Recorded: Dozens of Small Blue butterflies, 4 Common Blue, 3 Painted Lady's, 1 Meadow Brown and a Speckled Wood.
Moths Recorded: 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) a Straw Conch (Cochylimorpha straminea) and a Yellow-faced Bell (Notocelia cynosbatella)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees and Common Carder
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: 2 Amblyteles armatorius and 1 Alomya debellator
Hoverflies Recorded: 2 Tapered Drone Fly (Eristalis pertinax) and a Mimic Bee Hoverfly (Volucella bombylans)
Flies Recorded: Possible Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) and a Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Lesser Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Ischnomera cyanea), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
Caterpillars Recorded: Brown-tail Moth