Post shopping and local only

The strong and cold north-easterly meant that the early morning temperature was in single figures.

The wind ensured little or no insect life in a twenty minutes walk and, unsurprisingly, no butterflies. 

Although yesterday saw my first Large Red Damselflies of the year it was nice to see a local individual as they are few and far between most years and never seem to be around the ponds and are typically, like this individual, perched up on the sunny side of Squirrel Wood's scrub.

Bees were Buff-tailed, Honey, Common Carder, Hairy-footed, Yellow-legged and Grey-patched Mining (below) and a couple of Nomadas which were worn and hunkered down,  so just tri-coloured species.

Even the normally combative Myathropa florea, were happy to shelter on sunny leaves.

This male Xanthandrus comtus was best-of-the-bunch and recorded on FB.

A few craneflies included this Nephrotoma (appendiculata?)

Titchfield - some new for years

Started with a coffee in the cafe in one of the window seats. The first time it's been quiet enough here to warrant taking a seat. And very nice too! A long chat with with the cafe manager.

First new species was Large Red Damselfly with several individuals.

And later, Reed Warblers but all heard onlys.

A couple of Marsh Harriers, Red Kites and Buzzards were scrutinised after reports of Black Kite just further west at Hook - but no joy.

Two Swifts flew over east bound but TH had a dozen or so earlier and a dozen or so hirundines were either Swallows or too far to identify, so House Martin is still not on my year list yet.

On the way back two Baccha elongata were typically impossible to photograph and were within a few yards of where I usually see them.

No terns offshore.

The Lesser Whitethroat was still very vocal and sat up quite nicely unlike last visit and a Fox walked down the path towards me before deciding to skedaddle.

Sitting in the middle hide eight noisy Greenshanks dropped in to the far end of north Scrape.

And finally, today was the first day for lots of St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci) despite a chilly breeze.

Another SHP visit

A couple of Sandwich Terns over the road en route.

Nothing too different today. 

Below Noon Fly, Fannia spp presumably lustrator, some Bugle (Adjuga), Nomada on Cuckooflower, Nursery Web Spider, Beefly and Melanostoma scalare (probably), Anthomyiid possibly Hylemya vagans

Plenty of pesky, worn Andrenas and Nomadas.

The briefest of walks

A quick stroll after this morning's Covid jab saw a new brood of Mallards, about a dozen strong. 

Along the south side of the field this Sulphur Tubic (Esperia sulphurella) on an umbellifer was, for a very common moth, an unxpected 'lifer' for me.

A cold southerly and overcast skies with temperatures barely into double figures put paid to flying inverts.

Revisit to Stansted

 

(Xysticus spider, Nomada fucata, Andrena minutula group a.k.a mini-miner and Nomada goodeniana).

Another walk through the conservation area found 20-30 Bee-flies and a number of Nomada goodeniana which I couldn't find in exactly the same place on the previous visit!!

Four Orange-tips were barrelling up and down but never landing for a photo and Andrena haemorrhoa and Andrena nigroaenea were easily found.

A smart Criorhina hoverfly perched up on a sunny leaf but sadly vanished in an instant.

Mistle Thrush and Marsh Tit were additional to previous visit.

And a 'womp, womp, womp' announced the presence of the biggest 'bird' of the day.

Stansted; a longer walk.

 

(Well Head notice, Speckled Wood, Pachyrhinus lethierryi,  Nomada fucata, Dilophus spp, Bluebells)

QECP briefly

 

A movement caught my eye whilst standing looking at the thousands of tadpoles in the pond and turned into this single Adela reamurella. Later that day, someone posted a lek of that species, something I've not seen in a while. Hopefully my singleton found some mates to 'dance' with!!

Elsewhere, little of interest other than a single Slow Worm under the usual sheet. 

Other than Firecrest birdlife was pretty much nil.

Strolling back through the pay-to-park area I noticed this small colony of Andrena cineraria on the very edge of the grass, about 30+ strong with as many holes.

Pulborough

No photos

Adder info courtesy of AA/RSPB

AA115   (25th Feb)  female. First photographed in April 2022. Seen every year since in the Winpenny area.

AA164   (11th March) female. first seen on Adder Alley in April 2024. Not seen in 2025.  Regularly seen in 2026 in that spot on Adder Alley

 

Titchfield - a fine, sunny day

 

After a coffee from Harbourside and a chat with MR and volunteers it was out to find a few new-for-years namely Sandwich Tern, Swallow, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and, rather surprisingly, a male Eider, which shows how little coastal birding I've done in the last three months.

Was shown some nice photos of the Bunny Meadow's AGP by a guy from Winchester.

About 150 Med Gulls were on the causeway with calling birds into and out from the scrapes all morning and at least one hundred Turnstones in the harbour.

Local

Tuesday

Nomada zonata, Melangyna cincta and Leucophora spp (most likely obtusa (False House Fly aka Hairy Bee-shadower) below

Today

Epistrophe eligans, Peacock, Bluebell spp/hybrid, Nomada spp all below

Also seen Peacock(4), Comma(1), Small White(2), Brimstone(1)

Bee-fly (10-20) and a single Andrena cineraria

Med Gull 5, Cettis Warbler 2

Morning at Pulborough

A disappointing day, mostly overcast. 

A nice Ruff was in close at Westmead as were a pair of noisily mating Redshanks.

Duck numbers  now substantially reduced with most Wigeon and Pintail departed.

A single Adder warming in the occasional bout of sunshine but no first Orange Tip for the year despite plenty of Cuckooflower.

Lunch with CL on the terrace where 7+ Fieldfares below and to the left of the fenceline were a nice surprise; I've seen very few winter thrushes this year.

One of several bees on the tea terrace garden was taken away for ID.

No photos today.

PS Bees identified as A.nitida and A.nigroaenea