23 Mar 21

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church and Penns Wood

Another very sunny day, though a lot cooler than yesterday. Despite it feeling chilly, there were quite a few insects about especially in the more sheltered spots.

In Penns Wood I came across my first Hairy-footed Flower Bee of the year on a flowering Russian Comfrey and on the Comfrey leaves I came across at least 10 Common Green Shieldbugs.

Also in the wood was a Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), and two other bee species which didn't stop long enough to be ID'd further than a nomad sp. and a mining bee sp.

Only migrant bird seen today was a Skylark heading north over the Butterfly Reserve and also ticked off my first Linnet of the year along Bumpers lane.

Here are a few images from today:

A rather smart looking Goldfinch at the cove.

If its sunny, warm and sheltered from the wind there is always a good chance of seeing a Wall Lizard.

I came across at least 3 Commas this afternoon, plus a couple of Peacocks.

With the Russian Comfrey now in flower, I was half expecting to see a Hairy-footed Flower Bee and....

........I wasn't disappointed.

Penns Wood is also a good spot for Common Green Shieldbugs.

In fact I came a across a good ten or so, plus..........

...........in keeping with the theme of "hairy", there was also a Hairy Shieldbug here as well.

Not on the Comfrey, but on an Alexanders in Penns Wood, a Grey-patched Mining-bee

A bit of fun with a few shots of Ted on one frame.

Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and 4 Greenfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 2 Peacock and 3 Comma

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), a Nomad sp. and a mining bee sp.

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and 1 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 10+ Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and a Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.