Montpelier Station

A bit more bird action this morning - 2 Jackdaws flew over, a Grey Wagtail was on the platform near the tunnel and a Jay showed well in the trees. A Chiffchaff called briefly.

On the ivy near the footbridge was a Red Admiral, several Common Wasps and at least 1 Eristalis tenax hoverfly. There were still some Moth Mullein plants in flower.

Jay

Eristalis tenax

Moth Mullein

Red Admiral

Sparrowhawk!

A Sparrowhawk flew over the station this morning harassed by a Carrion Crow. Judging by the size, it looked like a male. An Eristalis hoverfly basked briefly on the ivy at the Cromwell Road end of the footbridge and there were half a dozen Common Wasps too.

Sparrowhawk

Common Wasp

Ravens!

A pair of Ravens were on the TV mast this morning and a few minutes later one of them flew over the station - it's been a while since I've seen them locally. Also at the station were a few calling Great Tits. A ladybird pupa was on the wall, probably a Harlequin Ladybird.

Harlequin pupa

Ravens

Spider!

A spider in the flat this evening looks like our old friend the Missing Sector Orb-web Spider Zygiella x-notata. I've had many generations of these over the years and they are rather cute.

Zygiella x-notata

St Pauls Park

I've neglected this lovely little park in recent months so I had a quick look round this morning on my way to work. There was a group of feeding Great and Blue Tits and a singing Coal Tit, 3 or 4 Goldfinches, 5 Woodpigeons, a coup!e of Feral Pigeons and a juvenile gull, probably Lesser Black-backed.

St Andrews Park

A lunchtime stroll produced a few invertebrates enjoying the sunshine - a few Eristalis pertinax (Drone flies), a Xylota segnis hoverfly, a Small White butterfly, several Honey Bees and a Garden Spider. A Great Tit was singing and a Jay called. A Robin was active near the bowling green and a Grey Squirrel posed for the camera.

Eristalis pertinax

Small White

Grey Squirrel

There was a Melanostoma hoverfly nectaring on a sowthistle flower along the rainbow bridge at the Fairlawn Road end.

Melanostoma

Springtail at the Station

I was attracted to a small insect on the wall at the station this morning which puzzled me. It had very long antennae and a long body. After much thought I decided it must be a springtail, and have discovered that it is called Pogognathellus longicornis. I don't see many springtails on the patch so was very pleased to find this one! Nearby was a Green Shieldbug.

Pogognathellus longicornis

Green Shieldbug

Bugs in the bath

Last night I found a Birch Shieldbug in the bath! I've only recorded a couple of these before on the patch.

Birch Shieldbug

At the station this morning another Jay was heard and a Red Admiral and Small White were seen. On the wall was an interesting long-legged fly which looked like one of the Dolichopodidae.

 Dolichopodidae

Nearby, a Coal Tit was singing in the park.

Montpelier Station

There were a couple of noisy Jays flying around this morning plus singing Wrens and Robins. A Large White butterfly was flying around. A Green Shieldbug was on the wall along the platform.


Last night a Harlequin Ladybird was on a neighbour's house wall.