Friday 2nd April 2021 - Back Garden, Kidderminster
Today the sun was shinning and I decided to spend a little time looking at the wildlife in my back garden. Although we live in a terraced house near the centre of Kidderminster the wife and I have always treated our back garden as a wildlife garden and actively encouraged a diverse range of species. When I spend some time out there it feels like our own little nature reserve and there is usually something interesting to see.
Today's time spent in the garden proved very worthwhile and I was pleased to see that the Red Mason Bees had emerged from the bee hotels.
Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) male - 2nd April 2021
Another solitary bee observed today in the garden was a Gwynne's Mining Bee that was busily feeding on the Grape Hyacinth flowers.
Gwynne's Mining Bee (Andrena bicolor) - 2nd April 2021
It was also great to see Dark-edged Bee Fly feeding on the Wild Primrose flowers. These strange looking bumblebee mimics have a long proboscis that they use to reach the nectar of their favoured foodplants as they hover.
Dark-edged Bee Fly (Bombylius major) - 2nd April 2021
But the best species I saw today was a Dotted Bee Fly. This species was formerly scarce but has expanded it's range considerably through Worcestershire over recent years. This is the first time I have recorded one in my garden and it is a more than welcome visitor.
Dotted Bee Fly (Bombylius discolour) - 2nd April 2021
Saturday 3rd April 2021 - Private Farmland, Stone/Summerfield
Today I returned to the farm for a wander around and whilst walking through the paddocks I was greeted by the 'kronking' sound of a Raven. I looked up and there were 2 present overhead, so I quickly took a record shot.
Raven (Corvus corax) - 3rd April 2021
Also of note today were 2 Common Buzzards, a Stock Dove that was sat on the edge of one of the barns and a Robin that was singing his heart out in the dappled sunlight at the edge of the pine tree paddock.
Robin (Erithacus rubecula) - 3rd April 2021
Monday 5th April 2021 - Podmore
3 White Wagtails were present alongside 7 Pied Wagtails in a field off Ryland Lane this afternoon. White Wagtails are the nominate race of what we know as Pied Wagtail and breeds across much of mainland Europe. Our Pied Wagtails are one of a number of subspecies of White Wagtail and is mostly limited to Britain and Ireland. Where as White Wagtails are genuine passage migrants to the UK and pass through on Spring migration between early March and May. White wagtails look much more silver-grey on their mantle which contrasts distinctly with the head and wings. They really are good looking and often over-looked birds.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba alba) - 5th April 2021
