Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Pools and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve
It was another very warm day, so it was just a quick walk around the lane, pools and butterfly reserve, to see what was about.
Main highlights were a pair of Greenfinches by the pools, where there was also a Common Whitethroat and at least 6 Bee-orchids.
On the reserve I came across my first Large Skipper of the year and a single Meadow Brown. Also here were 2 Common Whitethroats, with one individual "churring" at me. Possibly because I was walking close to its nest or youngsters close-by.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
It was another very warm day, so it was just a quick walk around the lane, pools and butterfly reserve, to see what was about.
Main highlights were a pair of Greenfinches by the pools, where there was also a Common Whitethroat and at least 6 Bee-orchids.
On the reserve I came across my first Large Skipper of the year and a single Meadow Brown. Also here were 2 Common Whitethroats, with one individual "churring" at me. Possibly because I was walking close to its nest or youngsters close-by.
Here are a few images from this afternoon.
This male Linnet was along the lane and sporting a BTO leg ring.
Just the one Bunny seen today in the Lower Horse paddock.
There are a few Red Admirals starting to appear. This one was in the lane, where this.........
.............Common Blue and.......
...........Speckled Wood were also seen.
On the butterfly reserve a lone Meadow Brown.
Also here was my first Large Skipper of the year.
It looks a bit menacing head on.
I had this down as a White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum)at first and then having looked at.....
This is a Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris) and a member of the hoverfly family.
Another hoverfly this time a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
And I'm not sure if this little chap is identifiable, the only thing I'm sure of is............
A lot easier to identify, even if its silhouetted inside this Dog Rose (Rosa canina). A male Swollen-thighed Beetle.
And it was very pleasing to find not just one or...........
..........2 Bee Orchids but 6 in a local patch where I have seen them in previous years. More on Bee Orchids Here.
Once he's had a drink mind you!!
Mammals Recorded: 1 Bunny
Birds Recorded: Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 8 Swift, Dunnock, Blackbird, Common Whitethroat, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Greenfinch
Butterflies Recorded: 1 Large Skipper, Large White, Small White, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Small Blue and a Common Blue
Moths Recorded: Several day flying moths sp.
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius) and Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)
Ichneumon Wasps Recorded: Either an Ichneumon stramentor or Amblyteles armatorius.
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa) and a Black-horned Gem (Microchrysa polita)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Wakeham
This evening, just as the sun was setting, I was sat in the back garden watching a male Azure Damselfly, a very bright yellow and orange Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) and what I believe could be a Rough-Haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta), but it doesn't look as if it has any hairs.
A male Azure Damselfly
This really yellow and orange bumblebee is a male Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum)
Possibly a Rough-Haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta)
Ships Today
This is the German Container Ship "Ragna" on its way from Southampton to Cork. More on this vessel Here.
