Briefest of QECP visits

 

A lot of faff yesterday included a visit to SC only to find it closed; I forgot they're not open Tuesdays!! Then on to QECP where a u-turn under the bridge was required due to flooding after heavy rain at night and again earlier in the morning. After reentering from the north I'm glad I did as the AA were dealing with someone who tried to drive through the flood - and failed!!

A gap in showers with thunder gave time for a quick walk after a slightly disappointing lunch. 

A few worker Bombus lapidarius were walking around in a confused state after what looked like a badger had dug out the nest.

A poor photo above of Gymnosoma rotundatum, now called Ladybird Balloon-belly.

The first few Bombus vestalis of the year were enjoying the thistle flowers in the 'hot corner' along with this Small Tortoiseshell, only my 2nd or 3rd this year; such a massive reduction in numbers over my lifetime.

Finally, a few Broad-bodied Chasers were on the wing but this one was perched low down by the staff vehicle park.

And today (03/06) saw the Swarovski 12×50s off back to Austria for a second bout of re-armouring via LCE Chichester. This really shouldn't happen at this price point!!

And Amazon delivered a CD which has the longest title of any I've ever bought - 

'The Worse Things Get The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight The More I Love You'!!!

A few from Titchfield on the coolest day for a while.

Food pass between male and female Marsh Harriers

Plenty of Painted Ladies, part of the ongoing invasion, and outnumbering all other butterflies totalled.

Along the path-side twenty or so Southern Marsh Orchids (probably 200+ in meadow) and a single Common Spotted. Lots of Ragged Robin.

First Black-headed Gull chicks.

Some NfY insects:- 

Wasp Beetle x 2 on Hemlock Water Dropwort, Meadow Brown, Cantharis pallida, Cantharis fusca, Cheilosia illustrata, Chrysogaster solstitialis, Roesel's Bush-cricket

Brief local

No change bird-wise although a Swallow hawking low over the field is presumably a local breeder in the Burrfields area.

This Broad-bodied Chaser sat up for a photo but too far for the macro lens. Later, two male Emperors chased each other skyward. Its that time of year when, despite warm conditions, there is a big butterfly 'gap' being still too early for Essex Skipper, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper etc and nothing other than a couple of Holly Blues.

This Phania funesta was the only other thing of note.

As the Yellow Flag goes over the first few spikes of Purple Loosestrife are appearing.

And a bunch of hawking gulls midday included some calling Mediterraneans.

First trap of the spring... and summer only four days away,

I wasn't sure whether to put the trap out with a resident family of six foxes; the novelty has very definitely worn off now what with noise, smell and general chaos and damage. Awake by 04:30 and not long after that all hell broke loose, with an adult arriving with food and four youngsters going 'bat-crap crazy'. So it seemed wise to deal with the trap and unplug the electrics.

The totals came to 40/17, not great but about par for the course.  A Portland Ribbon Wave (below) was the fourth here, one per year since 2023 although this is the earliest and the Setaceous Hebrew Character (below) was the only thing I could be bothered to photograph out of a pot. Two common moths, Cinnabar and Yellow-banded Longhorn (a female), were both new for the garden and trap.

All were added to the usual Sheets spreadsheet.

A few screaming Swifts overhead.

The heatwave continues and wasn't conducive to much else. Later, a lingering coffee in the airconditioned Costa was very pleasant.

At the pond the lone Reed Warbler seems to have started mimicking alarm-calling blackbirds. Another four Swifts overhead.

SHP early

(Eristalis nemorum, Tachina fera/magnicornis x2, Ectophasia crassipennis - Twist-winged Parasite Fly - Cheilosia impressa, Speckled Yellow, Dactylorhiza spp , probably Common Spotted Orchid)

Despite an early(ish) start to avoid the heat of the day, it was tough finding anything. Speckled Yellow was the commonest Lepidoptera by far. Bird song is already dieing off for the spring and I'm guessing the heat is not helping - the best were two Bullfinches in the conservation area and a distant heard-only Yellowhammer. Three Swallows and a tatty kite were about it otherwise.

The two hovers were recorded via FB and both NfY.

Iping with WSBW

Here comes summer..

After such a long run of mostly poor weather this year the first heatwave has arrived with temperatures looking to hit 30c in two days and no obvious relief in the following week. Sundays walk has been brought forward half an hour which might make it impractical for me.

Today was a catch up over coffee with K at SHP so no wildlife watching per se.

So three singing Firecrest, one Goldcrest, a few singing Blackcaps, two House Martins and a Red Kite overhead. A male Orange-tip in the Well Head was my first for a while and, with June around the corner, could possibly be my last of the year. A female Ectophasia crassipennis (Twist-winged Parasite Fly) was NfY and my first here so I popped it on irecord.

No time for photos nor a walk to the conservation area.