Tuesday
Coffee, breakfast muffin and a short hobble around the bottom path at the park was quiet but this female Helophilus trivitattus popped out but was a little 'too far in' for a close-up and soon after this male H. pendulus was close by. A couple of invisible Siskin went over and at least one Spotted Flycatcher was calling from well up into the biggest trees.
Thursday
After yesterday's visit called off due to weather, today saw very nice weather for a trip to Arundel which, unsurprisingly, was rammed with people. The reserve was also full of families . Nice to catch up with Richard but birdlife was quiet with just various heard Kingfishers, multiple Buzzards (some obviously whining youngsters), single Sparrowhawk and Common Sandpiper. House and Sand Martin's were overhead.
Patches of Fleabane and Water Mint etc were attractive to a few insects:-
Nowickia ferox
Tachina fera
Nomada spp
Volucella inanis and zonaria
Helophilus pendulus and trivitattus
Eristalis pertinax and tenax
Other small unidentified hovers
Odonata were represented by:-
Brown Hawker
Migrant Hawker
Southern Hawker
Black-tailed Skimmer
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter
Blue-tailed Damselfly and
Small Red-eyed Damselfly
A post-pasty sojourn on a shaded bench with a juvenile Canada Goose cropping the grass between my feet saw two calling and overflying Ravens; later one returned and soared effortlessly for ages quietly croaking away to itself and seeming to enjoy the freedom of just cruising around, getting higher and higher until it disappeared into the blue.
Sunday
Just a brief coffee visit with crowds of runners, cyclists and dog-walkers - Buzzard over the park, Red Kite over the road and a Grey Wagtail in the carpark; a Spotted Flycatcher was again calling from the same spot as Tuesday.
