Bee Beetle in the Garden

A bit of gardening this afternoon brought a very nice surprise. This Bee Beetle (Trichius fasciatus) was feeding on our Hadspen Blood (Astrantia major). A special thanks goes to the Early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) worker which led me straight to it!

Nice day in the Neath Valley

A nice day near Glyn-neath today with lots of insects enjoying the sunshine. I past 2 ponds today. The first was about the size of a tennis court with clear water. This one had at least 8 Four-spotted Chasers(only males identified)

The second one was 1/4 size with very murky water. This one had 9 Broad-bodied Chasers, mostly males with one female observed egg laying.

Also present another couple of Mountain bumblebee (Bombus monticola)

The above bumblebee was at one point chased off by this large and common hoverfly. I've seen Sericomyia silentis defending areas of "air space" before, in much the same way the male chaser dragonflies do over their chosen ponds.

Whiteford moths on 12th

Moth trapping at Cwm Ivy / Whiteford (Chris Manley, Veronica Shenston and myself) produced 121 species, the highlights of which were 1 Celypha cespitana, 1 Epinotia rubiginosana, 1 Anerastia lotella, 1 Dioryctria abietella, 1 Thistle Ermine, 6 Fox Moth, 3 Oblique Carpet, 6 Pine Carpet, 1 Small Waved Umber, 1 Haworth's Pug, 1 Barred Red, 10 Small Elephant Hawk-moth, 1 Red-necked Footman, 51 White Ermine (including ab. godarti), 2 White Colon, 3 Dog's Tooth, 1 Marbled Coronet, 4 Shore Wainscot & 1 Bordered Sallow.

Male and female Fox Moths with Early Marsh-orchid
(c) Chris Manley

Epinotia rubiginosana (3rd county record)

Red-necked Footman

White Ermine ab. godarti

Large Marsh Horse Flies at WWT

I've eventually managed to key out these Tabanid flies as Tabanus autumnalis (The Large Marsh Horse Fly)[female has a 16mm wing as a size reference], there being about 15 of them very confiding on the bridge to the Heron's Wing Hide, so I guess just emerged? Note the eyes touch on male but are separated on female, which is the one with the nasty bite!

male (eyes touching)

female (eyes not touching)

Wasp Orchid at Berwick roundabout

Not so many Bee Orchids on Berwick Roundabout this year when compared to the 268 counted last year, but there was a rather nice Wasp Orchid (Ophrys apifera var. trollii).

BTO Breeding survey TTV's

I completed my last round of summer Timed Tetrad Visits today. I only joined this valuable project halfway through, but I wish I'd started at the beginning. It has encouraged me to look for birds in my local area and is tremendously satisfying if you find something nice. Below is my favourite find of the summer. A Spotted Flycatcher, one of a pair, were found towards the end of my second timed hour. Ieuan Blackmore and myself had one in adjacent square last weekend, but, although looked for yesterday was not found again.

Other highlights have been Grasshopper Warbler singing and a long staying pair of Sedge Warblers(not confirmed yet!!!). Lots of birds flying around with food in mouth and good numbers of fledgelings being fed by parent birds. The Willow Warbler family(parent on left feeding young birds on right, 2 of 4) below is a good example for the BTO code - FL (recently FLedged young or downy young).

...and more fledglings...

The 2010 breeding season continues in good style. Barrie Swinnerton photographe this female Great Spotted Woodpecker showing her offspring where to the local fast food outlet is in Middleton Village.