Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow and Wakeham Cuttings
After a very cloudy and cool morning, the sun eventually appeared late morning and it turned out to be another warm day.
Highlights today were a Spotted Flycatcher, several Chiffchaff & Willow Warblers, and a Garden Warbler, all feeding in and around the Sycamores at the eastern end of Old Quarry Lane.
Mammals Recorded:
1 Brown Rat
After a very cloudy and cool morning, the sun eventually appeared late morning and it turned out to be another warm day.
Highlights today were a Spotted Flycatcher, several Chiffchaff & Willow Warblers, and a Garden Warbler, all feeding in and around the Sycamores at the eastern end of Old Quarry Lane.
Mammals Recorded:
1 Brown Rat
A Brown Rat on the feeders in a local Nature Reserve, close to Wakeham Meadow
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
House Martin
Swallow
Dunnock
Blackbird
1 Garden Warbler
4 Chiffchaff
3 Willow Warbler
1 Spotted Flycatcher
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Highlight today was this Spotted Flycatcher
Unlike Pied Flycatchers, Spotted Flycatchers normally return to the same branch after catching their prey.
In their breeding grounds they would most likely have a favourite branch to feed from.
In this instance this bird is on migration and is just interested in fattening up for its long haul south.
Here it is on another perch, before flies off to catch another flying insect.
Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Small White
Speckled Wood
Meadow Brown
Gatekeeper
2 Red Admiral
1 Holly Blue
Common Blue
Chalk Hill Blue
One of several Small Whites on the wing today.
A Holly Blue
Not a Holly Blue but a male Common Blue.
And a female Common Blue
2 Jersey Tiger (Euplagia quadripunctaria)
This Jersey Tiger Moth was on the tree in front of the cottage.
Whilst this one was upside down on a Buddleia
And as above on the same Buddleia
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
A Common Carder Bumblebee
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)
Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta)
A Dead Head Hoverfly
A Common Dronefly
This is a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria)
Well I guess this is a male Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta). But it just doesn't look right.
flies sp.
Gall Wasps Recorded:
Gall Wasp (Dipoloepis rosaea)
This is a "Robin's Pincushion" on a Dog Rose. It is a gall caused by the larvae of a tiny gall wasp, Dipoloepis rosaea. More on this Here.
1 Short-winged Cone-head (Conocephalus dorsalis)
Ted:
Ted:
Something tells me that Ted is not liking this particular walk. Ahh the last photo tells it all. He just wanted a bit a shade. It was quite hot out there today.
He is in the picture. Right at the end of the small track in the shade. Honest!!