Sunday 31 July 2016

Montpelier Station

Not an awful lot to report other than Buff-tailed Bumblebee and the hoverfly Myathropa florea on the Buddleia, and a Holly Blue on the disused platform.
Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Myathropa florea

Friday 29 July 2016

Holly Blue

A Holly Blue butterfly was in the garden today, along with a Large White.

Thursday 28 July 2016

Swifts

It was with mixed feelings that I watched 10-12 Swifts high above the station this morning. Glad that there were so many of them but sad that in just a few days they will be leaving us and commencing their risky flight to Africa. As a guy remarked as I watched them, 'rather them than me!'

Wednesday 27 July 2016

False Widow!

There was a male Noble False Widow spider Steatoda nobilis in the bath this morning. I took a picture before releasing him into the garden.
Noble False Widow

Monday 25 July 2016

Hornet Hoverfly

On the approach to the station this morning I saw my first Hornet Hoverfly of the year on buddleia flowers and there was a Comma butterfly nearby. At the station itself there were a couple of Large and Small White butterflies.
Comma

Small White

Hornet Hoverfly



Saturday 23 July 2016

St Andrews Park

A happy hour spent in the meadow and pond area produced a Red Admiral (sadly it didn't pose for a photo), several tadpoles, a Leafcutter Bee, a hoverfly Syritta pipiens, a tiny ground bug (or plant bug), a Sawfly, a Cheilosia hoverfly, and a Red-tailed Bumblebee. A forest of of Wild Teasel and some Agrimony in flower.
Ground or plant bug

Cheilosia hoverfly

Syritta pipiens

Agrimony

Sawfly

Wild Teasel
Leafcutter Bee

Thursday 14 July 2016

Comma

A Comma butterfly this morning at the entrance of the Old Vicarage and a couple of Harlequin Ladybirds in Montpelier Park. Moth Mullein in bloom near the railway tunnel.
Comma

Harlequin Ladybird

Moth Mullein

Saturday 9 July 2016

Small Magpie Moth

Jim found this Small Magpie Moth in the wildflower area of Fairlawn Road. A very attractive little moth, its food plant being mainly nettles. Thanks for the pic, Jim! 
Small Magpie Moth  (pic by Jim)

Friday 8 July 2016

Narroways

This morning on the reserve: Meadow Brown c20, Ringlet c40, Marbled White c15, Small/Essex Skipper 1, Large White 1, Comma 1. Also Common Blue Damselfly, Speckled Bush-cricket and Dark Bush Cricket, Meadow Grasshopper, Thick-thighed Flower Beetles, Soldier Beetle, Red-tailed and Buff-tailed Bumblebees, Common Carder Bee. Hoverflies - Syrphus sp., Cheilosia sp., Melanostoma sp., Marmalade Hoverfly, Eristalis pertinax. There was also a male Coelioxys sp. bee.
male Coelioxys sp

Comma

Common Blue Damselfly

Dark Bush-cricket

Eristalis pertinax

Meadow Grasshopper

Small/Essex Skipper

Ringlet

Speckled Bush-cricket

Jay (possibly a young one) calling at Simons Grove and Jackdaw over stony path.

Wednesday 6 July 2016

Montpelier Station butterflies

A Large White and a Large Skipper were seen on the disused platform this morning.
Large  Skipper