Port and Wey: 31 May 22

Out and about

It has been a busy week so far, with lots of family members visiting Portland. Today I met up with my brother, sister-in-law and the niece of one of my sisters at the Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens for late afternoon scones, clotted cream and jam. Very nice indeed.

And it turned out to be an even better day when I was driving back home, as a came across a Red Kite flying over the fields near Portesham and a little further on, my first Yellowhammer I have seen for quite a few years.

Before I left for Abbotsbury I took Ted for a walk along Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadows. Main highlight here were two Thick-headed fly species, Sicus ferrugineus and Physocephala rufipes. I dont think I've ever seen both together on the same day.

Key to Sightings today:
A - Abbotsbury
P - Portesham
The rest seen in and around Old Quarry Lane and Wakeham Meadow.

Birds Recorded today:
1 Red Kite (P)
1 Buzzard (P)
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Swallow
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap (A)
2 Chiffchaff (A)
1 Goldcrest (A)
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
1 Yellowhammer (P)

Butterflies Recorded:
Large White
Speckled Wood
Small Heath
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Common Blue

Speckled Wood

Painted Lady

Moths Recorded:

Mother Shipton (Callistege mi)
Vetch Piercer (Grapholita jungiella)

Hook-streak Grass-veneer (Crambus lathoniellus)

Mother Shipton (Callistege mi)

Vetch Piercer (Grapholita jungiella)

Hook-streak Grass-veneer (Crambus lathoniellus)

Bees Recorded:
Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)

bee sp.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)

bee sp.

Ichneumon Wasps Recorded:
Ichneumon sp.

Ichneumon sp. A name I always get tongue-tied with. Having checked the pronunciation, I have come up with "Ick New Man". Seems to come out alright.

Hoverflies Recorded:
#1 - Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus)
#2 - Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) - No photo

#3 - hoverfly sp.

A Marmalade Hoverfly hovering.

#3 - hoverfly sp.

#3 - hoverfly sp. It took off unexpectedly, hence the unsharp image. I have tried to enhance in the hope it can be identified. Interesting to note that the last two yellow segments on the abdomen are slightly more orange. Not sure that helps, but who knows.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
#1 - Noon Fly (Mesembrina meridiana) - I just missed out on a photograph of this stunning fly.
#2 - Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus)
#3 - Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)

#4 - fly sp.

#2 - Thick-headed Fly (Sicus ferrugineus)

#3 - Thick-headed Fly (Physocephala rufipes)

#4 - fly sp.

Lacewings and Scorpionflies Recorded:

Lacewing possibly Hemerobius lutescens

A Lacewing possibly Hemerobius lutescens. There are a few very similar species. More on the Hemerobiidaes Here.

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
#1 - Swollen-thighed Beetle (Oedemera nobilis)
#2 - Lesser Thick-legged Flower Beetle (Ischnomera cyanea) - No photo

#3 - Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha lignosa)