Sunday 23 July 2017

Around the Patch

I've managed to get out and about a little around the patch mostly some quick walks around the woodlands before work and a stop there last Sunday afternoon to do a Butterfly count.


Ringlet


Comma 




There were Small Skippers everywhere, the last one is possibly an Essex Skipper.

I also spotted this Damselfly on the pond


Other butterflies seen - Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Large White and Speckled Wood

There are a fair few young birds around there - Great and Blue Tits, Woodpigeon, Dunnocks and Robins. In fact i've never seen so many Woodpigeons there, i've spotted a couple of nests over the past few months, they've obviously done well!




Similarly the woods are full of Squirrels too. 



There are plenty of other smaller bugs about too, we spotted Vapourer Moth Caterpillars, Hoverflies, Soldier Beetles. Plus this huge hoverfly like insect sat by the stream, maybe a Sawfly?








A few more pictures from the Woods.









New Information Board


8 comments:

  1. Hi Pam. Looks like you had another excellent day. The large hoverfly you thought might be a sawfly is in fact our largest hoverfly, sometimes called Hornet Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria. I've seen a few in London this moth + 2 today. They lay their eggs in wasp nests.

    Your two other hoverflies going down the page are Chrysotoxum festivum (a good wasp mimic) + one of the Parhelophilus spp, which have aquatic larvae- rat tailed maggot type.

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    1. Hi, thank you for your help and the information. I've never seen this Hoverfly before, it was huge! I did think that the one of the other hoverflies was quite wasp like, a very good mimic.

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  2. More lovely wildlife sightings - love the butterflies and hoverflies :) The face in the tree and fairy doors are so cute :)

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    1. Aren't they, they're down a little 'fairy' path that they decorate even more when they have fun days!

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  3. It's such a nice place to visit, plenty of things to see. Not seen one of those Hoverflies with the stripes on it's thorax from the Eristalini family . Have a look on Naturespot (all one word) on left had side list of all kinds of insects to look at.
    I like all the little fairy doors in the wood.
    Catching up on everyone's blogs this morning hoping the sun will come out soon.
    Amanda xx

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    1. It's a gem of a place, i'm so pleased I finally checked it out last year! There are a lot of hoverflies around the woods, I really need to up my ID game I think, thanks for Naturespot, i'll check it out.

      The doors are lovely aren't they, a nice touch for the kids (and adults).

      I cant't seem to find the time to catch up myself at the moment, i've just checked the odd one but would love to sit and go through them properly! xx

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  4. Love all the butterflies, such jewels! I think Urban woodlots are sooo important for the health of wildlife, good job to support that effort, super spot!

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    1. They are and they do a great job with this one!

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