12 Jun 21

Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow and Lower Horse Paddock

It was pretty warm out there today and it's not that often Ted has had enough of walking, but today was one of those days and so a short walk it was.

There was still plenty to see and both a male Meadow Brown and 2 Mother Shipton moths were firsts for the year.

Other Butterflies noted were several Common Blues, lots of Large Whites, a few Small Whites and 1 Red Admiral.

Also new for the year was a 22-spot Ladybird and I might have found a new andrena bee for my Portland List, a Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena chrysosceles).

Here are a few images and a video from today:

A Common Whitethroat in Wakeham Meadow. He stopped..........

............briefly gave a very short song burst before heading off to its nest in the Horse Paddock.

These Starlings just love to have a piggy back.

Apart from the darker adult in the centre, the other 6 are juveniles

A very worn.........

............ male Common Blue

And another male plus...............

............a female Common Blue. All looking a bit tatty

My first Meadow Brown of the year. Hopefully better photos to come, as more should start appearing over the next few days or so.

And a Mother Shipton moth. In fact there were 2 very close together in the meadow.

Now a lot of andrena bees look very similar to each other, but I'm pretty sure this is a new one for me and is a Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena chrysosceles). I will check though.

In the same area I came across a Migrant Hoverfly (Eupeodes luniger) was this hoverfly. I'm not convinced it is the same as before as this individuual has more black than yellow than the Migrant Hoverfly. One to check later.

And this very bright looking fly is a Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa)

And my first 22-Spot Ladybird of the year.

I have seen plenty of Plantains on my travels, but this one caught my eye. I think it could be Hoary Plantain (Plantago media). More on this plantain Here.

Oh dear a very hot dog. Time to go home Ted.

Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Red Admiral, Common Blue

Moths Recorded:  2 Mother Shipton (Euclidia mi)

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and a possible Hawthorn Mining Bee (Andrena chrysosceles).

Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: 2 Ichneumon Wasps sp.

Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus) and a hoverfly sp.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Broad Centurion (Chloromyia formosa)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 22-spot Ladybird (Psyllobora 22-punctata), Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and Lesser Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Ischnomera cyanea)

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.

2017
Today's Sightings Here