Thursday 13 April 2017

Stuff


Brown-tail Moth caterpillar - masses of these on Orcombe at the moment.
 
Nick and I did Orcombe first thing this morning - 3 Willow Warbler, 7+ Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and 2 Swallow indicated that birds were coming in but both variety and numbers of migrant species are still very disappointing. Back at home, a short spell watching the river from the garden, produced 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Swallow, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Sandwich Tern and an Osprey that drifted across the river, from west to east, at 0950. The Yellow-browed Warbler is still there and still singing.
Yesterday morning, on Orcombe, I recorded 1 Meadow Pipit, 7+ Blackcap, 5+ Wheatear, 7 Willow Warbler and a Greylag Goose.
A Red Kite was circling high above the river at 0935.


A Greylag Goose east over Orcombe Point yesterday morning.


Damselfly species - Bystock - not sure which species this is.
Edit - female Large Red Damselfly - many thanks Dave.


Bee species from the garden - again - no idea what species this is.
Edit - male Ashy Mining Bee - many thanks Nick.

4 comments:

  1. Your damselfly is a female Large Red Damselfly

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    1. That's great - many thanks Dave. My lack of dragon/damselfly knowledge is embarrassing but I'll get round to learning them one day. Guessing this must be one of the earliest species on the wing as I've not seen any others. All the best. Matt

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  2. Hi Matt, I think your bee is a male Andrena cineraria - Ashy mining bee. See http://www.bwars.com/sites/www.bwars.com/files/info_sheets/andrena-cineraria-info-sheet.pdf

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    1. Many thanks Nick - must get the bees book and the dragonflies book. Not sure I'm ready for the hoverflies yet. Having looked online it looks like the female Ashy Mining Bees are more distinctive and to my eye a bit smarter. I'll put some time in looking for them before I go back to work. Orcombe again quiet this morning. All the best. Matt

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