GC Grebe chicks

Tuesday 16th July 

Very nice start, but it soon clouded over but stayed warm and sticky at times.
Great to see the GC Grebe chicks feeding well, they are growing quite fast now, shouldn't think the mother will be able to carry them round much longer.
Few Grass snakes on the pool again,
Got pics of hoverflies, but it does seem quiet for them these past few days.

Juvenile Little Grebe

On the afternoon I watched this black headed gull try to snatch a fish from the Grebes.

Chrysotoxum festivum which is a first for me.

Monday 15th July

Had the day at Packwood House in Warwickshire.

Sunday 14th July

Cricket world cup final so didn't go out.

Humbugs

Saturday 13th July

Cloudy, warm and breezy.
Lots of butterflies about, an amazing amount of small skippers at bottom of cornfield by Stankly Lane.
Four little humbugs still going strong and feeding well.
Couple small grass snakes hunting at front of pool.

Chieliosa illustrata

 Dasysyrphus albostriatus

Friday 12th July

Cloudy but warm and very windy, the sun popped out now and then.
Walkabout was pretty quiet, nothing out of the ordinary, hard to get insect pics as it was so windy.

Some dark clouds about, used by the BBC today.

Late morning, love seeing the poppies in the corn, also used by the BBC today.

Red Bug - Deraeocoris ruber

Thursday 11th July

Cloudy, bright and muggy start.
Walkabout didn't reveal a lot, 4 humbugs still going strong and feeding well.

 Fly Sicus ferrugineus

Wednesday 10th July

Cloudy and dry.
Actually there are 4 GC Grebe chicks, just hope they can keep going.

Hoverfly -  female Platycheirus albimanus

Tuesday 9th July

Cloudy but warm and muggy.

Nice to see the 3 Great Crested Grebe chicks (humbugs) are now out on the pool riding on Mother's back.

Feeding time

Time for a nap, the chicks don't think so though.

Posing

Think this one is a little too big for those chicks.

female Sphaerophoria sp

Syrphus sp 

Hoverfly - female Syrphus ribesii

Episyrphus balteatus

Helophilus pendulus

Volucella pellucens

Essex skipper butterfly