A mainly sunny morning with intermittent cloud, a gentle north-westerly breeze blowing. Temperature around 15 degrees C.
Dragonflies (5)
Plenty of breeding behaviour from the Aeshna mixta Migrant Hawker, with at least six pairs found together in a couple of square metres on the eastern Dragonfly Pond.
Aeshna mixta – Migrant Hawker
Enallagma cyathigerum – Common Blue Damselfly
Sympetrum striolatum – Common Darter
Butterflies & Moths (10)
Choreutis pariana Apple Leaf Skeletonizer was a first for me, found on north hedge near the dragonfly ponds. A site tick was also added to my site list, a Macroglossum stellatarum Humming-bird Hawk-moth nectaring on the bank of Cell A from the gate.
Maniola jurtina – Meadow Brown
Pararge aegeria – Speckled Wood
Pieris brassicae – Large White
Pieris napi – Green-veined White
Polyommatus icarus – Common Blue
Vanessa atalanta – Red Admiral
Choreutis pariana – Apple Leaf Skeletonizer (NEW)
Macroglossum stellatarum – Humming-bird Hawk-moth (NFS)
True Bugs (8)
A couple of adult Rhopalus subrufus were found again along the North Path, along with an nymph. Himacerus major Grey Damselbug was new for the year (NFY), with Anoecia corni a new species.
Chilacis typhae
Heterogaster urticae – Nettle Groundbug
Himacerus major – Grey Damselbug (NFY)
Palomena prasina – Green Shieldbug
Philaenus spumarius – Cuckoo-Spit Insect
Rhopalus subrufus
Flies (7)
A couple of flies were NFY Anthomyia sp. and Tachydromia sp. Conops quadrifasciatus was found along the North Path.
Conops quadrifasciatus
Coremacera marginata
Episyrphus balteatus – Marmalade Hoverfly
Tachydromia sp. (NEW)
Sphaerophoria scripta
Other bits and pieces included several Araneus diadematus Garden Orb-Web Spider obvious around the reserve. Halictus rubicundus Yellow-legged Furrow Bee was a new species to me.
Araneus diadematus – Garden Orb-Web Spider
Bees (1)
Halictus rubicundus – Yellow-legged Furrow Bee (NEW)
Agelastica alni – Alder Leaf Beetle
Coccinella septempunctata – 7-spot Ladybird
Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata – 22-spot Ladybird
Sphaeroderma testaceum
Birds (10)
The Aix galericulata Mandarin Duck was on Village Lake opposite the East Hide. A mini-waderfest was found on Island Lake with one Actitis hypoleucos Common Sandpiper, two Calidris alpina Dunlin, two Charadrius dubius Little Ringed Plover, two Charadrius hiaticula Ringed Plover, seven Gallinago gallinago Snipe, four Numenius arquata Curlew and four Tringa ochropus Green Sandpiper. The Picus viridis Green Woodpecker was on the path to Turret HIde, whilst the Motacilla cinerea Grey Wagtail was on Far Lake.
Aix galericulata – Mandarin Duck
Calidris alpina – Dunlin
Charadrius dubius – Little Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula – Ringed Plover
Motacilla cinerea – Grey Wagtail
Numenius arquata – Curlew
Picus viridis – Green Woodpecker
Tringa ochropus – Green Sandpiper
Mammals (1)
Mustela erminea – Stoat