Saturday, 8 June 2019

Snake fly plus lots more

Saturday June 8th

Lots of rain today, finally relented early afternoon and I went walkabout late afternoon, as you can see from the photo below it was a touch cloudy when I went out but I did manage quite a few photos.



Pentatoma rufipes - forest bug final instar nymph

male Syrphus sp

female Sphaerophoria sp



  Chrysogaster solstitalis











female Syrphus sp



Eupteryx / Macrosteles sp leafhopper




 female Sphaerophoria sp











Friday June 7th

Lots of rain forecast today so had an early walkabout which was very dull, saw lots of bird activity, always pleased to see the GS Woodpecker.
Nothing different on the pool, the heron in it's usual place hoping to catch a fish or two.
Few hovers about but not easy getting decent photos in such poor light, hope to get back out later on.

Three images taken in terrible light.




A huge niggle from me is that dog mess seems more frequent lately, saw a fresh mess this morning in the field by Captain's, very irresponsible by the dog owners, have to say that the majority round here do clean up after their dogs but there is a small fraternity that can't be bothered, I've watched dogs run into the field while the owner stays in the lane, I'm not usually a moaner but this really does annoy me, enough said!! (for now)
Didn't get back out, hope to do so in the morning.
Thursday June 6th

Wonderful start to the day, but again very windy, spent today over the fields looking for hoverflies and insects, not as many about today but probably due to being so windy.

Again I will try and ID's to photos when I have more time, but for now expect to see lots of photos.
If you spot something here that you know the ID of please let me know.

Still lots of photos to go through before I add to the page.


The Pied hoverfly -  Scaeva pyastri

Nature's way. White Crab spider ( Misumena vatia ) with hoverfly (Volucella pellucens)
Amazing how the spider can change colour depending on the plants it is on.
















Mining Bee



Wasp Beetle - Clytus arietis




Wednesday June 5th

One for the BBC used on the evening news and several times thursday morning, also several times friday morning, think this is a record for one of my photos.




female Sphaerophoria sp

female Sphaerophoria sp

Cows in the reserve by Captain's





Myathropa florea


Brown silverline moth





Ladybird larvae

Neuroptera - Lacewing



Peacock caterpillars




Longhorn Beetle - Rutpela - maculata





Tuesday June 4th

Dull and breezy start to the day, walkabout early on but as usual it was quiet, did see a GS Woodpecker by Captain's, GC Grebes looked to be working on the nest again but still no sign of the chicks.
Couple of buzzards hovering at rear of the pool.
Late morning went walkabout looking for hoverflies, but still taking photos of anything that moves as well.
Did spot a moth or butterfly that I had not seen before, but flew off before I got a photo, Jason joined me later but no sign of it, but I shall be back again tomorrow with my eyes peeled.
We did pop off to Hillditch Pool, heron flew off just as we arrived, we didn't stay long as the rain came down quite heavily.
Couple of firsts for me today, both not far from Captain's Pool, the snake fly and the Superb ant hill hoverfly, two beauties, some insects still to be identified which I will do at some point, but for now there are not enough hours in the day :-)


Snake fly

  Yellow barred longhorn moth Nemophora degeerella

female Syrphus sp

male Meliscaeva auricollis 

male Eupeodes sp

male Meliscaeva auricollis

female syrphus sp

female Meliscaeva auricollis

Saw fly

male Myathropa florea

Hoverfly - Xanthogramma pedissequum agg, a male. (ant hill hoverfly)

male Meliscaeva auricollis

female Syrphus sp

female Episyrphus balteatus



Black Headed Cardinal Beetle - Pyrochroa coccinea

Harlequin Ladybird - Harmonia axyridis





Heron in hiding early morning


Monday June 3rd 

New walk from me today, walked down to the three pools then along the stream to Amada from where I walked into the reserve next to Amada and then kept going till almost under the viaduct then beared left and walked keeping the railway tracks on the right all the time, up until I hit the railway field (not an exciting walk at all), quite blustery along the fields and to be honest I was glad to get back home.
Few swifts over the fields and lots of sparrows, speckled woods and common blue butterflies around, other than that it was very quiet.
From our lounge window my wife and I both watched a large bird, kept going behind a tree every time I tried to take a photo.
Perhaps slightly bigger than a buzzard plus it's wings were different at the ends/tips, I'm thinking possibly an Osprey, but as I'm not an expert and no photo so perhaps I will never know.
Also thought I saw one early last week and since then I have not seen the GC Grebe chicks, coincidence, probably but so sad to not see them.


Helophilus pendulus male

Black ad yellow Longhorn Beetle

Possibly a Snipe fly 

Meredon equestris male

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