Epistrophe eligans (male) and Myathropa florea (male).
Yesterday's weather was a bit of a let down being totally overcast all day with the highlight being Mark's zoom presentation on Kabul.
Today was an improvement and the mass of flowering Blackthorn had lots of insect activity but mostly at too high a level to see much - hopefully Saturday's delivery of Papilios will help - but Eristalis were very prevalent and Bee Flies were more plentiful than any day so far. The 'squirrel' hedge held the first Syrphus and Myathropa florea (above) of the year plus Epistrophe eligans (also above) and a few others and along here and the roadside scrub several first Common Carders. Two Blackcaps were on territory along with a single Chiffchaff but no Willow Warbler yet, but a third Cetti's was very close (and loud) at the midway point.
A few small pulses of inbound Meadow Pipits went north with one coming within inches of the claws of a marauding Sparrowhawk, a different bird to Tuesday morning's female.
Just one each of both black-backed species amongst the other gulls.
Virtual nurse appointment with promise of new drug in the days ahead and continuing fortnightly blood tests until the summer!!
P.S.
Another 2020 release eagle did a close fly past yesterday being seen by various Worthing birders before heading directly east-west over town at 200+ metres, and would have been visible again from the back bedroom and certainly from the pre-lunch walk if I'd delayed it by an hour!! Then, off behind Titchfield, across Southampton Water and the short crossing back to the IOW.
