It's been awhile since I've said "What a difference a day makes", but today was certainly different than yesterday and for that matter, the past week or so.
And what a great start to the day it was, when mid-morning a Curlew passed over the cottage, followed by a Siskin and a Grey Wagtail. This was followed by 3 more Siskins and a lone Rook heading south around lunchtime.
I was going out for a walk with Ted, but I was somewhat delayed as I didn't want to leave with so much going on in and around the garden; especially as I came across my first Ivy Bees to visit the garden. There were around a dozen or so on the Ivy, which covers "The Old Vic" (An old outhouse building which used to house a toilet). What a great sight, the Ivy Bees that is.
Birds Recorded:
In and around the back garden:
1 Curlew
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Magpie
Rook
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
4 Siskin
Goldfinch
Bees Recorded:
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
This is the first time I have seen our Ivy being visited by...........
.......Ivy Bees.
As I followed this Ivy Bee with the camera, it passed a Common Fruit Fly (Tephritis bardanae) at the bottom of the frame, and then took off and landed a bit further up the Ivy, right next to a male Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum)
And another short video of an Ivy Bee
Hoverflies Recorded:
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)Plain-faced Dronefly (Eristalis arbustorum)
Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Common Fruit Fly (Tephritis bardanae)
Spiders Recorded:
Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
Common Fruit Fly (Tephritis bardanae)
Spiders Recorded:
Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus)
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Old Quarry Lane, Wakeham Meadow, Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Broadcroft Pools and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve
Well we did manage a walk in the end and timed it just right as the sun came out. It was a lovely walk, with some good highlights, including 4 Chiffchaffs along Broadcroft Quarry Lane, 4 along Old Quarry Lane and 2 in Wakeham Meadow. Also about were a few Blackcaps in the hedgerows, whilst overhead I counted at least 10 Swallows passing through.
Mammals Recorded:
Bunny
Mammals Recorded:
Bunny
One of the resident bunnies in the Lower Horse paddock
Birds Recorded:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
5 Collared Dove
10 Swallow
Meadow Pipit
Dunnock
Robin
3 Stonechat
Blackbird
3 Blackcap
10 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch
A Common Buzzard over the meadow.
It didn't stay long as the local gulls and Carrion Crows helped it on its way.
Sat on top of the dead branches of a Cypress were these 4 Collared Doves. A fifth was in the next tree along.
A very busy female Stonechat by the pools.
Here she is...........
............coming into land.
And then off again in search of another snack.
A short video of the female Stonechat at Broadcroft Quarry Lane Pools. In the background is a Chiffchaff calling
Close by to the Stonechat was this Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Speckled Wood
Small Heath
Red Admiral
A bit of a surprise was coming across this Small Heath along Old Quarry Lane
Just 2 Red Admirals seen on my walk.
Common Nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
A Common Nettle-tap on a Buddleia leaf
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae)
A Honey Bee on Ivy.
Wasps Recorded:
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded:
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
A Common Dronefly
Cranefly (Tipula paludosa)
Cranefly
Harlequin Ladybird larvae (Harmonia axyridis)
2 Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina)
The larvae of the Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)
A Common Green Shieldbug
Slugs and Snails Recorded:
White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis)
Garden Snail (Cornu aspersa)
A White-lipped Banded Snail. No bands on this one though,
And a Garden Snail.
Large White
These Nasturtium leaves are about to be devoured by these caterpillars of the Large White butterfly
Plants:
Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba).
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)
Old Man’s Beard (Clematis vitalba)..........
.............Also known as Travellers’ Joy and Wild Clematis.
Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana)
And another Pampas Grass, which like the one above look the best they have ever been.
Ted:
Ted waiting for me to catch up.
This is the Dutch LPG Tanker "Bayamo" on its way from Fawley to Milford Haven. More on this vessel Here.