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.

30 Days Wild Day 2, A Privet comes calling..

So, an attempt during the 30 Days Wild in June to post something each day of the month no matter how mundane.

A few moths including first Brimstone, a second Buff Tip and this fresh, also new-for-year Privet Hawkmoth. Despite encouraging it into cover by lunchtime it had relocated to back to the fence panel above the trap!!

Clear and a little chilly last night so very thin pickings, just Willow Beauty, first Treble Lines of the year, several pugs and micros awaiting id and an Ingrailed Clay (NfG). Just chattering Goldfinches. The two micros identified though FB were both NfG as was the Ingrailed Clay, so getting close to 175 spp for the last 12 months.

Later over coffee in Petersfield at this little cafe below (shaded side very welcome in this heat), 10-15 Swifts coursing silently through the sky and a surprising male Beautiful Demoiselle barrelled by and a noisy family of Wrens in the Physic Garden. The ubiquitous Med Gulls and a couple of Buzzards over the A3.
Back at home Merodon equestris and Holly Blue plus, curiously, a calling Coal Tit from behind no 6.