Wakeham
It is quite amazing how much can grow in the Summer when it just keeps on raining. The garden looked like a tropical jungle until I got the shears, secateurs and lawn mower out. Not that it will have made any difference as more rain is on its way.
Highlights today were 3 Swifts and 4 Swallows making their way down the island. Whilst in the garden there must have been a good 200+ Marmalade Hoverflies on the Cherry Tree, with many on the cherries themselves.
Birds Recorded in and around the garden:
Herring Gull
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
3 Swift
4 Swallow
Dunnock
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
4 House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
6 Goldfinch
Just two of the 6 Goldfinches which were on the nyjer feeder today
And now we can see why the Woody likes feeding under the feeders/ It's raining food. (Apologies for the background noise from the building site behind the garden)
Amphibians Recorded:
Frog
This Frog wasn't moving for anyone and just sat there hiding behind the aquatic plants.
Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Moths Recorded:
3 Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
As I was moving through the "jungle" I must have disturbed at least 3 Silver Y moths.
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
This is a male Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Hoverfly sp.
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) on and around the cherries
This is just one branch of Cherries on the Cherry Tree which is very laden. You can just imagine how many Marmalade Hoverflies are on it and around it, including an unidentified hoverfly. (And apologies again for the background noise from the building site)
And the California Poppies were.....................
...................... attracting the Marmalade Hoverflies as well.
A male Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
And another A male Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
Slugs and Snails Recorded:
Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)
Plants:
I know these aren't wild flowers, but I thought I would have a go at growing these California Poppies.
Its no wonder the Marmalade Hoverflies are attracted to them. That is some vivid orange.