4 Jun 24

Lower Horse Paddock, Higher Horse Paddock and Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve

Another change of scenery today, and a day that was decidedly fresher, slightly wet and very windy.

Highlight today was not only seeing my 3rd Meadow Brown this year, but actually photographing one.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Blackbird
1 Chiffchaff
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Butterflies Recorded:
1 Speckled Wood
1 Meadow Brown
1 Common Blue

This is my third Meadow Brown this year and.........

...........the first one I have managed to photograph.

Bees Recorded:

Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum)

A Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) on Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa)
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)

This is a Broad Centurian (Chloromyia formosa). A species of fly that appears to be quite numerous this year.

A Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) with a froghopper below.

Another Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) with Small Black Ants (Lasius niger).

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:
1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

A Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea

Slugs and Snails Recorded:
White-lipped Banded Snail (Cepaea hortensis) - deceased

Lots of empty White-lipped Banded Snail shells. The handiwork of a Song Thrush, using this stone as an anvil to break open the shells for a tasty meal.

Ants Recorded:
Small Black Ant (Lasius niger)

Froghoppers Recorded:

Common Froghopper (Philaenus spumarius)

I think this is a Common Froghopper. More on froghoppers here.

Plants:
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)
Rosy Garlic (Allium roseum)

This is White Clover (Trifolium repens) and a clover for some strange reason, I haven't logged before. More on this plant here.

 

And masses of............

...........Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)

And these pink flowers are...........

...................Rosy Garlics (Allium roseum)

Ted:

Ted having a good run in the cooler weather.

Ships Today:

This is the Chemical/Oil Products Tanker "Yasa Orion" flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. It is on its way from Schouwenbank Holland to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel here.