4 Oct 24

Wakeham

It was one of those days, when you thought the sun was about to show itself, and then it disappeared just as quickly, as it had appeared.

Having said that, there was a slightly more prolonged spell after 4:00pm, but by then I was indoors, having a rest.

Main highlights today were 6 Swallows passing through, a lone Grey Wagtail hot on the heels of the Swallows and 3 Chiffchaffs calling with two at the front of the house and presumably the same Chiffchaff as yesterday in the back garden.

And of course the "overwintering" Robin was stood on the fence singing away to me.

There were no butterflies seen, and there very few bees and hoverflies about.

Birds Recorded:
Herring Gull
Wood Pigeon
Collared Dove
6 Swallow
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Robin
1 Blackbird
3 Chiffchaff
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Goldfinch

It was nice to see the "overwintering" Robin still in the garden and.........

...........in good voice as well.

A Chiffchaff calling from the neighbours garden and............

..............then disappearing into the Buckthorn

Butterflies Recorded:
None

Bees Recorded:
4 Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
2 Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

A Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) in one of the Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) flowers.

A Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) coming into land on this Common Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

Wasps, Ichneumon Wasps, Parasitic Wasps and Gall Wasps Recorded:
1 Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

I'm quite pleased I didn't get rid of the main branch of the Cherry Tree, as it...........

..............seems to be attracting a few insects, like this Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). I might actually set up the Trail camera to include the trunk to see if there are any other visitors.

Hoverflies Recorded:
2 Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)

Just two Common Droneflies (Eristalis tenax) seen this afternoon. This one was trying to warm itself up on the wall.

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded:
A few unidentified flies

Possibly a Greenbottle (Lucilia sp.)

Maybe one of the Flesh Flies (Sarcophaga sp.)

Leafminers:

leafminer sp.

Below are a few images of my Oak Tree in the back garden with some Leafmines. More on Oak Leaf Miners here and here.

Caterpillars Recorded:
Large White

I wasn't surprised to see this Large White Caterpillar on a Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) leaf....

.............but I was when I found these recently hatched ones on the underside of another leaf. As long as there isn't a sudden cold snap they should do alright. Though there is every chance they will be picked off by the birds.

Plants:

Buckthorn (Rhamnus sp.)

The berries and the very long needle-like thorns of the neighbours Buckthorn (Rhamnus sp.)

Ted:

I can see you!!