Port and Wey: 25 Apr 20

Wakeham

What a strange day weather-wise. There was huge bank of clouds to the east and wall to wall blue skies to the west. And here in Wakeham we were stuck right in the middle, with a little bit of drizzle and then sunshine. That's Portland for you.

Today's highlight was a Lesser Whitethroat just beyond the back garden. I did wonder what the next Garden Lockdown Bird would be, with the List now standing at 43. A good bird, but beaten hands down by a Hawfinch seen by Mark in Easton, literally just up the road from the Cottage. Nice one.

Other birds of note seen today were a few Swallows and a male Sparrowhawk. The latter being chased down the gardens by a pair of Carrion Crows.

In the garden a few bees ventured out, mainly Early Mining Bees. Other bees seen were singles of Yellow-legged Mining Bee, Grey-patched Mining Bee and Red Mason Bee. The Cherry tree blossom has all but gone over now and where there were dozens of bees swarming all over it a few days back, today there were just 2 Buff-tailed Bumblebees. A Red-tailed Bumblebee made a circuit around the garden, but didn't stop.

Update what I initially thought was a Grey-patched Mining Bee is in fact an Orange-tip Mining Bee or Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)

Also seen was an Ichneumon Wasp, but I only managed to photos, which I dont think will be good enough to help ID it.

A few hoverflies about and two new ones for my garden list which are a Pajupuuhari (Chalcosyrphus nemorum) and a Vagrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae). Also seen were 2 Epistrophe eligans.

Also in the flowerbeds both Hairy Shieldbug and Common Green Shieldbug.

Yellow-legged Mining Bee

I missed identified this Orange-tip Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa) as a Grey-patched Mining Bee. I need to check the tip of the abdomen in future. It is also called the Early Mining Bee.

Red Mason Bee

A very small Ichneumon Wasp and unfortunately the only photo. So it will remain an Ichneumon sp.

The hoverfly Epistrophe eligans

I've not see too many of these, but I believe this the hoverfly Pajupuuhari (Chalcosyrphus nemorum)

And I'm thinking this could well be a Vagrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes corollae), which is quite interesting in that I found one on exactly this day last year in Broadcroft Quarry Butterfly reserve, which is a few hundred metres behind the cottage.