At long last my first Swallow this Spring and another addition to my garden list which now stands at 34. Also moving through were small flocks of Meadows Pipits, plus 2 Yellow Wagtails.
In the garden itself I had 3 Chiffchaffs passing through with one singing. And always a good sight, a pair of Greenfinches landing in a neighbours garden.
My garden list of mini beasts is ever-growing with new additions being a Noon Fly, a Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) which is a first for me on Portland. I also had another Ichneumon Wasp this time a female Amblyteles armatorius.
Also a first was a Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) and an even bigger "beast" which unfortunately wasn't seen, but the evidence of its visit to the garden was on the lawn, the droppings of a Hedgehog. A good sign that the garden and pond are providing a great habitat for this nocturnal visitor.
Just a single Peacock butterfly today and there are now 4 Common Green Shieldbugs in the garden. The one with the slight blemish on its wing casing has now moved, and I mean moved. It is now a good 4 metres down the garden. As for other two newbies they were mating on a Valerian.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
My garden list of mini beasts is ever-growing with new additions being a Noon Fly, a Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) which is a first for me on Portland. I also had another Ichneumon Wasp this time a female Amblyteles armatorius.
Also a first was a Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) and an even bigger "beast" which unfortunately wasn't seen, but the evidence of its visit to the garden was on the lawn, the droppings of a Hedgehog. A good sign that the garden and pond are providing a great habitat for this nocturnal visitor.
Just a single Peacock butterfly today and there are now 4 Common Green Shieldbugs in the garden. The one with the slight blemish on its wing casing has now moved, and I mean moved. It is now a good 4 metres down the garden. As for other two newbies they were mating on a Valerian.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
Three Chiffchaffs passed through the garden today.
They didn't stay long.
This one was searching out insects in the Ivy.
One of the Chiffchaffs did sing, but by the time I got the camera out it stopped singing and started calling.
One of the many Yellow-legged Mining Bees, that appear to have taken over the garden. There are dozens now.
And one of their burrows in the lawn.
A Honey Bee visiting a Dandelion.
And one of the two Ashy Mining Bees at the back of the garden
And possibly the second shieldbug I found, but that has also moved.
And another pair which now brings the garden total to 4.
A really stunning fly. This is a Noon Fly.
In fact it was 17 minutes early as I found it at 11:43am. Perhaps I should rename it to the "Early Fly"
There are a few Ichneumon Wasps appearing in the garden, this one is.......
............a female Amblyteles armatorius
Another member of the Jumping Spider Family. This one looks good for a Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus)
Mammals Recorded: Evidence of a Hedgehog.
Garden Birds (24 Mar - Present Day)
Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Pheasant, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Total 34
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Today's Sightings
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Peacock
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Bronze Furrow Bee (Halictus tumulorum), Ashy Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria), Yellow-legged Mining Bees (Andrena flavipe) and a Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis)
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Amblyteles armatorius
Hoverflies Recorded: 2 Syrphus sp.
Flies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 4 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
Slugs and Snails Recorded: White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
Spiders Recorded: Sun-jumper Spider (Heliophanus sp.) and a Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus)
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On this day..........
2019Today's Sightings Here.
2018
Today's Sightings Here.