Hoverflies, nil and many

A mixed bag today with little birdwise at Blashford other than a single distant Hobby, one Black'wit and plenty of Tern activity. Reserve was very quiet with only a couple of cars. Just this single Beewolf in the usual spot and ONLY ONE hover, the Volucella zonaria above plus the mating Small Coppers and day-flying (Lesser?) Treble-bar moth.

Getting back early I popped into the park for a cuppa followed by the usual circuit. A flash of blue wings over the pond was surely a Swallow but turned into a day-hunting bat showing at point blank range and with bright sunshine turning the wing membranes blue against the brown body. No idea of spp but it felt maybe a little too large for a Pip - was actively either taking insects from the pond surface or drinking, not sure which - either way a real delight.

Thousands of hovers, mostly common stuff, augmented by Leucozona laternaria and glaucia, Scaeva pyrastri and Myathropa florea.

Three Phasia hemiptera also on umbellifer plus new tachinid Hemyda vittata (above).

Lots of butterflies including Silver-washed Fritillaries, Chalkhill Blues and Marbled Whites; all the skippers seemed to be Small.

On the bird front just a tatty overflying Red Kite.

Thinner than hoped for

Not as much in the trap as hoped  for with Nut Tree Tussock, Rosy Footman and Black Arches NfY plus the usual stuff and a couple of dopey wasps.
A Bullfinch was calling nearby and, at last, I caught sight of a Coal Tit after 21 months of hearing them in the distance, unsurprisingly flying in and out of the only conifer nearby.

Later, family of four Kestrels and single juvenile Marsh Harrier, four Cettis but precious little else.

Mobile!!

At last car back so off to PB for a duty day where it was nice to catch up with JAN for the first time in years and later Gary and wife. Birdwise pretty thin with just 5 Black 'wits and a nice loose pack of 175(ish) Swifts off southwards. Early highlight was a point blank bright Purple Hairstreak at eye-level in front of Westmead.
Later, on the walk through Black Wood a nice fresh male Volucella inanis was NfY and within yards of last month's V. inflata. Obviously an area I should keep an eye on on future. No camera today.

Local stroll

Bombus pascuorum

Scaeva pyrastri

Got up to see whether there might be a Scaeva pyrastri in the garden and, lo and behold, it was the first thing I laid eyes on - first for the year.  Still E. balteatus, Syrphus spp, Sphaeophoria spp, Syritta pipiens and male Eupeodes, presumably corollae also.

Around the pond stil at least two female V. zonaria and Myathropa florea plus the usual Eristalis spp and some unidentifiable Platycheirus.

Birdwise a few distant Swift calls and a mixed bunch of gulls high overhead including some newly fledged BHGs and about 20 adult Med Gulls. Just one still singing Blackcap.

A veezee day...

Carless and too hot to venture far so finding three female Volucella zonaria nectaring side-by-side on a small piece of Buddleia was pleasing. A Med Gull called from somewhere up in the blue and one Reed Warbler was still singing, albeit briefly, and hopefully indicates succesful breeding although I've not seen any youngsters yet.

A few surprises

Well the day ended less than well with engine management light and so a housebound day tomorrow, garage Thursday and, I'm guessing, a big bill Friday. Ggrrr!!

So, early chores and then the need to kill a couples of hours - a walk around Heath Pond. Pleasant temperatures and no wind but totally overcast which limited the amount of insect activity. First up was the constant chittering of House Martins, probably 50-60, plus a few Swifts and the sound of and then the sight of two Common Sandpipers perched up on the sunken fencing. A 'gang' of Coots nearly 70 strong were gathered at the north-west side and still song from Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Reed Warblers plus a hovering Kestrel. No Med Gulls today.

In the insect area stacks of skippers, the only ones photographed or seen well enough being Essex, one or two second gen Small Coppers, just the one Marbled White which wouldn't play ball and a single Common Darter being the only dragonfly. Strangely, no hovers other than Cheilosia illustrata (50+) on umbellifers and many bonking beetles.

In the sandy areas surprise was in the form of  several Beewolfs although none carrying Apis prey. Also lots of Colletes bees

Clouded Border

Xylota sylvarum

First day out in July and the weather improved much earlier in the day than forecast. New for the year were Brown Hawker, Gatekeeper and juvenile Great-crested Grebes plus a single Toadlet which could so easily have been trampled underfoot. The terns look to be coming on well and a distant Hobby was hawking to the east. A Grass Snake slid away and disappeared under the building.

On Ibsley Water the summer plumage Black-necked Grebe was just doable with binoculars, a single Red Kites to the north and there were quite a few Sand Martins buzzing about but nothing perched up for a portait in front of Goosander. A couple of LRPs  plus others heard only although the vegetation is now so thick and high photographing tideline waders is impossible.

A variety of stuff in the moth trap including 8 Elephant Hawkmoths, one Poplar and a gazillion tiny caddisflies.

Elsewhere this Broad-bodied Chaser and Beautiful Demoiselle plus Comma and on the the north side this adder was one of two plus a shed skin under a sheet.