(Large Red Damselfly, Merodon equestris, Lackey moth caterpillar, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Philodromus spp, local fox cubs, Minettia longipennis aka Sooty Pump Fly)
The weather has been poor for moths so far this year and didn't look too good for Tuesday with very chilly nightime temperatures down to 6 C or less and continuing for a few days. I'd rather hoped to get a message or email, saying the event was cancelled!
Arriving a little too early saw a trip to the Co-op where a couple of House Martins were overhead, followed by a quick coffee in Partners.
There was a bit of a queue to get in but eventually about 10-12 of us convened in the comfort of the first hide with Suzi et al where some moths had been potted earlier and some left in the UV Robinson.
In the end about 30/15 was better than expected and include some nice favourites - Poplar Hawkmoth, Treble Lines, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock and, best of all, Chocolate Tip a moth I've never caught and one I've seen on few occasions.
Wind and rain put paid to much invert searching and birdlife was pretty thin - just the male Peregrine cruising along the hanger whilst calling and a female Pochard with just one very tiny and vulnerable looking duckling.
Plenty of Sand Martin activity with all birds flushed skyward by a cruising Sparrowhawk plus a couple or more audible-only Swifts.
No Cattle Egrets, GWE nor harriers today.
Above, a bycatch in the trap was this Cockchafer.
Plenty of these Woundwort Shieldbugs, first Common Spotted Orchid and first Tropidia scita (Tooth-thighed Hoverfly), another Helina interpuncta according to ObsID, a Red Mason Bee, and finally an Alder Fly (Sialis spp).
It was nice to see that the Highland Cattle had drawn in three Cattle Egrets, birds I'd never seen here before and presumably from the Warblington area. Other birdlife was very quiet but I still submitted a complete Birdtrack entry.
The weather was a little disappointing being totally overcast but dry for the morning. Some areas were at least sheltered from the breeze. Later, at home it rained for an hour or so.
The only lepidoptera on the wing strangely were all moths; Speckled Yellow, Nettle-tap, Nemophora degeerella and Alabonia geoffrella. The English names for many inverts are now being used more widely on websites and in books so I think I'll start to add them here and so the former two moths are Yellow-barred Longhorn and Common Tubic, the latter a pretty poor name for such a smart moth!!
(EDIT I hadn't realised that 2nd edition of Sterling and Parsons with it's very prominent English names has this as Hedge Beauty, a much better name).
I was pretty chuffed to see 'Geoff' as we've not crossed paths for some years. (EDIT Just under 7 years since my last at Titchfield with Dave Wallace).
Hovers were few and far between and the two below were a bit too far for the 90mm macro but it looks as if both were new for me namely Platycheirus tarsalis and Criorhina floccosa.
(Cantharis rustica x2, Swollen-thighed Beetle, Athalia spp, Macrophya spp possibly annulata, Rhopalus subrufus, Helina impuncta(?), Neoascia spp, Tachina fera/magnicornis, Andrena fulva, Wolf Spider spp Pardosa, Honeybee swarm).
After some voting 'faff' - I'd forgotten I was still registered for postal voting - some weed pulling at home had the background soundtrack of invisible Swifts overhead and singing Goldcrest and Blackcap from nearby gardens.
At SC very busy with school party and a funeral plus other guests. Little on offer today with just singing Firecrest and a Small Copper which wouldn't settle for a photo. Hopefully, the heavily cut vegetation will recover soon and be full of insects in the next few months.
At home the usual local walk on both days saw a dozen or more Holly Blues but not much supporting cast.
Presumably the local Whitethroat had moved down the hedge line and was singing close to the pond. Pleasingly, today saw the first singing Reed Warbler of the spring on site, albeit well hunkered down. The Cantharis above and a Blue-tailed Damselfly were new-for-year.
(Four-spotted Chaser emerging, two Azure Damselflies)
The above dragonfly was emerging at Fattengates raised pond. Several other exuviiae were obvious and both Azure and Large Red Damselflies were ovipositing.
A few waders, notably Greenshank (4+) and Ruff but no (obvious) LRPs today.
Only four Nightingales heard, presumably now more concerned with raising young.
From the tea terrace my first Garden Warbler of the year was singing.
Best birds today were at least five Hobbys mostly distant and hunting over the river but with one making some close passes of Winpenny pool.
Highlight of the days was provided by two very noisy and rumbustious Weasels which rocketed out just feet away by the raised 'Adder bench' and rolled and tumbled before barrelling off across the field.
A local singing Willow Warbler was nice to hear but I'm sure it won't stay long and, as yet, no Reed Warblers on the pond. One calling Swallow and a couple of calling Med Gulls overhead and the swans have seven cygnets.
EDIT The swans lost all seven within two days; presumably rats/foxes
Plenty of Nephrotoma appendiculata including this mating pair and a couple of sawflies below, Arge cyanocrocea and a Macrophya spp (ribis?).
Previous day saw little at SHP where the Lasioglossums by the footpath are now replaced with these cleptoparasitic Sphecodes spp.
(Lassioglossum spp, Dock Bug, Diphyus quadripunctorius, Xanthogramma citrofasciatum)
A song-flighting Whitethroat and a pair of Stonechats adjacent to the carpark were unexpected.
Back home a couple of Sphecodes blood bees were on the Ceanothus.