The amount of insects around was immediately noticeable and on picking up the public footpath near the junction of Butts Lane and Barrs Lane I noted a stunning Nemophora degeerella Long-horn Moth (unfortunately it was fairly flighty and I was unable to take a photo). A short distance away I noticed a Cinnabar Moth sheltering on the vegetation underneath the hedgerow.
As the walk continued I recorded 4 Marmalade Hoverflies (episyrphus balteatus) and many Yellow Dung Flies (Scathophaga stercoraria)...regardless of the rather unfortunate name they are rather stunning little things.
On the walk I recorded 4 species of Ladybird: 2-spot, 7-spot, 14-spot and Harlequin. These were not the only beetles present as I also noted Cantharis livida Soldier Beetle, Thick-thighed flower beetle (Oedemera nobilis) and many Garden Chafers.
It was also a pleasant walk in terms of some of the patch's avian inhabitants with 14 Skylarks, 7 Linnets, 4 Swallows and 2 Common Buzzards present. Over the ruins of the former WW2 refugee camp there were 17 House Martins wheeling around.
It just goes to show how a bit of drier weather can transform a place and lift a patch birder's spirits too!
Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria)
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Cinnabar Moth (Tyria jacobaeae)
14-Spot Ladybird (Propylea 14-punctata)
Soldier Beetle (Cantharis livida)
Nice to see some Linnets, Jase - a favourite bird along the cliffs here, and I haven't seen one in a while.
ReplyDeleteThe insects soon bounce back given a break in the weather, don't they.
Hi Jase,
ReplyDeleteIts good to get out after all that crap weather 'aint it! I'll learn a lot from your invert photo's I think :-)
Some great finds there Jason and nice photos too. The Yellow Dung Fly is definitely more attractive than its name would suggest! I've only ever seen a 14 Spot Ladybird once and didn't manage a photo :-( Great post Jason, I do think the world of the invert is an interesting one!
ReplyDeleteI wonder where they all go when it rains? Nice shots, Jason. :D
ReplyDeleteScathophaga - 'faeces eater', technically it does'nt but a lovely description none the less.....after the crap weather, crap flies!
ReplyDeleteLaurie -
Rob - your absolutely right...its amazing how everything seems to come to life as the temperature rises
ReplyDeleteWarren - I concur...it really lifts your spirits to get back out there!
Jan - Thankyou. I agree the world of the invert is fascinating. each year that passes I find more and more things of interest...which then leads to mre id'ing and reading up...which I really enjoy.
Omi - Indoors if they have any sense!
Laurie - It's all a bit crap out there at the moment mate!
I am enjoying your Inverts posts Jason! They are interting and also handy as I have now ID'd the ladybird I found last Sunday, the 14 Spot Ladybird! Of course if I had counted the spots.......lol!
ReplyDeleteA great read and images, I especially like the Yellow Dung Fly! I first noticed these flies at the Fisheries last year, the dung in the field was swarming with them!
Oops..sorry about the spelling mistakes Jason!
ReplyDeleteMore haste.....
Thanks Pam, I'm glad you are enjoying the variety of wildlife in the posts at the mo.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, he birding goes flat this time of year so many birders get into butterflies and dragonflies (as I did) but then it tends to develop further if your not careful and your eyes get opened to all sorts in the world of the invert!