18 Oct 24

Wakeham

Well the day started off nice, but deteriorated by early evening as rain moved in again.

Highlights today were 3 Meadow Pipit and a Grey Wagtail overhead, plus a Chiffchaff calling from a few gardens down again!!

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
3 Meadow Pipit
1 Grey Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
1 Chiffchaff
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Linnet
Goldfinch

Close.

Closer still.

And on the table right next to me.

The resident Robin is certainly not shy.

Escapees, Ferals, Possibles Etc.
Feral pigeon


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

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) on Passion Flower (Passiflora sp.)

Leaving this Common Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) is a Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum)

On this Passion Flower (Passiflora sp.) is a Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
3 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
2 Braconid Wasp (Macrocentrus nigridorsis)

It was only when I started editing this photograph of a Common Wasp, that I realised there was a Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) - form succinea, in the decomposing Blackberries top right.

From what I can gather...........

...........this parasitic wasp could well be a Braconid Wasp (Macrocentrus nigridorsis)

Hoverflies Recorded:
1 Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis)

A Migrant Hoverfly (Meliscaeva auricollis) in flight and..........

............on a Nasturtium leaf (Tropaeolum majus) with a Large White caterpillar behind it.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
Many unidentified flies

Bugs and Beetles Recorded:

1 Harlequin Ladybird (Harmonia axyridis)

Caterpillars Recorded:
60+ Large White

I wouldn't mind betting that these Nasturtium leaves (Tropaeolum majus) will have all been munched by the time I get back from hospital. I don't think I've ever seen so many Large White caterpillars before.

Fungi Recorded:

Honey Fungus (Armillaria sp.)

This a Honey Fungus (Armillaria sp.). There are several very similar looking species.

Ted:

Ted, I'm behind you!!!