A mainly sunny morning with intermittent cloud, a moderate westerly breeze blowing. Temperature around 17 degrees C.
A good mornings visit to the reserve with several new species discovered (NEW), personal firsts for the site (NFS) and first records of the year (NFY).
Beetles (10)
Cryptocephalus pusillus was a new species for me, found along the eastern path. Checked out the Oaks near the farm and added Curculio glandium Acorn Weevil to my reserve list. Pyrrhalta viburni Viburnum Leaf Beetle was the first of the year, found at the same spot as the first species. A pale form of Harmonia axyridis Harlequin Ladybird was found at the entrance gate.
Anthocomus rufus
Coccinella septempunctata – 7-spot Ladybird
Cryptocephalus pusillus (NEW)
Curculio glandium – Acorn Weevil (NFS)
Propylea quattuordecimpunctata – 14-spot Ladybird
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata – 22-spot Ladybird
Pyrrhalta viburni – Viburnum Leaf Beetle (NFY)
Tytthaspis sedecimpunctata – 16-spot Ladybird
Butterflies (9) and Moths (1)
Maniola jurtina – Meadow Brown
Pararge aegeria – Speckled Wood
Pieris brassicae – Large White
Pieris napi – Green-veined White
Polygonia c-album – Comma
Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral
Vanessa cardui – Painted Lady
Anthophila fabriciana – Common Nettle-tap
Dragonflies (7)
A good ‘Hawker’ day with a female Aeshna juncea Common Hawker posing well along the Northern Path, with a male Aeshna grandis Brown Hawker also dropping in a few inches away for its photo opportunity. A nice male Aeshna cyanea Southern Hawker was also along Black Dyke, with plenty of Aeshna mixta Migrant Hawker active around the reserve.
Aeshna grandis – Brown Hawker
Aeshna juncea – Common Hawker
Aeshna mixta – Migrant Hawker
Sympetrum sanguineum – Ruddy Darter
Sympetrum striolatum – Common Darter
True Bugs (12)
Picked up a couple of new bugs, both awaiting confirmation, Euscelis cf. incisus and Lygus cf. pratensis. Nabis rugosus Common Damselbug was my first record of the species on site.
Apolygus lucorum
Corizus hyoscyami
Euscelis cf. incisus (NEW)
Heterogaster urticae – Nettle Groundbug
Kleidocerys resedae – Birch Catkin Bug
Nabis limbatus – Marsh Damselbug
Nabis rugosus – Common Damselbug (NFS)
Palomena prasina – Green Shieldbug
Philaenus spumarius – Cuckoo-Spit Insect
Phytocoris varipes
Flies (7)
Dilophus febrilis Fever Fly was a new species, whilst Sepedon sphegea was the first of the year for me, but didn’t sit still long enough for a photo.
Coremacera marginata
Dilophus febrilis – Fever Fly (NEW)
Melanostoma mellinum
Syritta pipiens
Triglyphus primus
Grasshoppers (2)
Chorthippus brunneus – Field Grasshopper
Chorthippus parallelus – Meadow Grasshopper
Birds (5)
Both Anas querquedula Garganey were still present on Island Lake and showing well, with four Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper, three Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper, Vanellus vanellus Lapwing and Gallinago gallinago Snipe for company.
Anas querquedula – Garganey
Gallinago gallinago – Snipe
Vanellus vanellus – Lapwing
