Despite strong winds, some areas had the combination of shelter and sun to bring out 16 species/groups of hover although nothing outstanding. Just Four-spot and Hairy Hawker plus Azure Damselfly on the odonata front. One Large Skipper was the only decent butterfly. A couple of Sicus ferrugineus were the first ones I've come across this year.

Just the female Marsh Harrier on show and later two flybys of a female Cuckoo. Probably 40+ Avocets  including one well grown youngster, a family of 12 Shelducklings and a few BHG chicks. One pair of Common Terns on eggs amongst the BHGs in front of Meon Shore. Near the gate a Sedge Warbler feeding young.

Mostly Autumn

Well Spring has given way to Autumn over the last few days with today being the least wildlife-watching friendly so far. Should have put a link here to Mother Nature a track from Mostly Autumn, a latter day prog rock (ish) band once recommended by a friend.

A brief walk between showers produced a few Meliscaeva auricollis, although the photo was from yesterday, several Cardinal Beetles, two Firecrests were singing from deep in cover, one on the forest side and one on the road side. On the pond the Moorhens now have three very small chicks, presumably just a couple of days old. The usual route is now getting overgrown and so was very wet. Where the scrub thickens a Chiffchaff alarm called and came in response to some pishing; seemed as if it was tending presumably fledged young.

30WDiJ Seven, Pulborough

Still windy, but thankfully dry and started with a Sandwich Tern over the car en route and soon after a Buzzard over 100 Acres. After arrival (and with no cafe available!!)  this large tachinid fly, Nowickia ferox was a nice start, followed by a singing Mistle Thrush, two very aerobatic Buzzards and the first ten of thirty or so Swifts. A nice male Sparrowhawk was easily the highlight of the morning.

An afternoon walk on the heathland was brightened by two Spotted Flycatchers and some good insects including first for year Large Skippers, Meadow Browns and Common Darter plus hoverticks in the form of Volucella inflata and Criorhina berberina, both a massive surprise. Sercomiyia silentis above was new for year. This wasp is a Nysson spp (probably spinosus) and which is
the cuckoo of Argogorytes species of wasp.

Finally over a cuppa and a chat with the guys a Hobby slipped over northwards.

Day 6 - Spooky!

Not much chance of recording anything today in the poor weather but curiously a quick search of Bird Journal shows not a single entry (out of 3500+records) for any 6th of June in the previous 50 years!! Obviously a wildlife-free date!! Maybe the old non-computerised records may have one; need to check.

Later a brief errand in Petersfield produced just one Med Gull and a Kestrel from the car en route and gave the opportunity for a walk round the pond in an unexpected break in the weather. About 125 Sand Martins, 30 or so House Martins and a few Swifts were forced down by the weather but gradually dissipated as the sun came out; a single 2cy Med Gull dropped in and the Reed Warbler in the bramble scrub was still chuntering away.

In the lee of the trees and bushes several Common Spotted Orchids almost flattened by 12 hours of rain,  lots of flies whose name I can't remember and three Volucella bombylans in the same few square metres as last week, plus one Volucella  pellucens. This Chrysotoxum, probably veralli, almost went unnoticed as it seemed very small. Anything else was wise to be ensconced in the undergrowth sitting out the howling gale!!

(Just remembered that the flies were a type of snipe fly, Chrysopilus cristatus)

Day 5, A tough one

Cool and windy last night and away from base, little optimism for this morning's trap contents. A Cinnabar was a little unexpected (first for the trap!) here but was too fired up to hang about. Otherwise Peppered Moth, H&D (4), S-sD, Pale Mottled Willow, Rustic spp (probably Vine's).  While photographing the latter, something floated down, caught my eye and landed nearby; one wing (!) of a SilverY, presumably predated by one of the numerous House Sparrows.

Later, an hour in a very overcast and windy park produced 100-150 spikes of Common Spotted Orchid, a few dozen hovers all grasping on for all they were worth, mostly on oscillating umbellifer heads.

Day 4 and first mammal

Roe Deer, or at least its head, was visible in long grass, the first mammal of the month - probably only expecting three or four, Rabbit, Fallow Deer and Fox!!

First up earlier was this Broad Centurion (great name).

Birdwise little, although still the odd Med Gull, fifteen or so Turnstones, a dozen or more Black-tailed Godwits (presumably not intending to holiday in Iceland!), a male Sparrowhawk, presumably from the local nest, a distant calling Cuckoo and both Marsh Harriers.

Xylota sylvarum and Chrysogaster solstitialis were both new for the year amongst various other hoverflies, this Vollucella pellucens being one of the more obvious. Depressaria daucella caterpillars were very common on Hemlock Water-dropwort ; shame the moth is so dull.

Several Andrena cineraria were the more obvious amongst the bees.

And finally a rather drab Hairy Dragonfly was hawking the area near the 'badger' but was far too busy to pose.

Saturday, Day 3 Where damsels go to die...

A nice mixed bag today starting with my first Volucella pellucens of the year hovering in a brightly sunlit spot, defending the area against all comers. Strangely, few other hovers other than Marmalade Flies, Eristalis spp, Parhelophilus spp and Syritta pipiens. At Ivy South two Hobbies, both hawking , one close, one much further and higher to the east - and the Common Terns now well established on the rafts. The reeds were covered in exuviae, mostly damsels, and a couple of Red-eyed Damsels plus lots of Commons were mating, whilst an Emperor dragonfly patrolled up and down. Looking closer, this Water Stick Insect was a nice find  - no idea when I last saw one of these.

On the other side still noisy LRPs and a noticeable increase in geese, one aggressive Egyptian having nine large youngsters chasing a Mallard family; and another Hobby hawked to the north.

Some Sand Martin activity in the wall but nothing photogenic sadly and a Sparrowhawk slipped out of the remaining trees; presumably it will return to predate any unwary martins over the summer.

This small Bee Orchid was by the path.

Most of lunchtime spent chatting to J6x4 about Mull and another tog about India and Tiger photography although a Grey Wagtail did slip overhead calling.

A Hairy Dragonfly was patrolling reception pond but not sitting up for pictures whereas this Four-spot was more obliging.