I was out and about today, so it was just a quick look around the garden to see what was about. Not in the garden, but the main highlight this afternoon were 5 Swifts screaming overhead.
In the garden a Speckled Wood actually settled on a leaf for a change, others beforehand have just flown on through. The only other butterfly seen was a Large White and I also came across a Mint Moth.
There were quite a few hoverflies about with two forms of Narcissus Bulb flies, Marmalade Hoverfly, The Footballer and two hoverflies sp. I have yet to ID.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
I had to be quick to photograph this Mint Moth, hence the "chopped" off wing. Next second it was gone.
A Buff-tailed Bumblebee on the Valerian.
And by the looks of it another male Early Bumblebee.
Here it is again on the Pincushion Flower (scabiosa) with two Swollen-thighed Beetles in the background.
I will have to check this one, it looks like one...........
..........of the Leaf Cutter Bees. But I will check.
And an Ashy Mining Bee which I see in the garden daily. This one looks like its looking for its burrow in the flower beds.
This is a Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris) and I believe the form validus
And another Narcissus Bulb Fly form validus. This one.........
..........is having a bit of a groom.
And this one is also Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris) but the form transversalis.
The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus)
#1 Hoverfly sp.
#2 Hoverfly sp.
#2 Hoverfly sp.
Here is another Swollen-thighed Beetle having a groom.
Possibly a Rough-Haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta). Again.
A right fluff ball is our Ted, as he and Benji had a visit to the dog groomers this morning.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, 5 Swift, Dunnock, Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White and Speckled Wood
Moths Recorded: 1 Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), a Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and a Leafcutter Bee sp.
Butterflies Recorded: Large White and Speckled Wood
Moths Recorded: 1 Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata)
Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), a Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) and a Leafcutter Bee sp.
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), 5 Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris, both forms transversalis and validus), The Footballer (Helophilus pendulus) and 2 hoverflies sp.
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and a possible Rough-Haired Lagria Beetle (Lagria hirta) again.