Friday 27 November 2015

Lepidoptera larva from Ethiopia

I'll probably never be able to identify these, unless of course you can.



                      

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Ethiopia 2015

I've uploaded a trip report and photos to the pages on the right hand side of the screen. Just click and view.


 

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Ethiopia

Just Back from Ethiopia. Some 500+ species seen with about 370 new birds seen. It'll take me a while for me to sort out a trip report and sort out the photos. So here's a few to keep you happy until I upload the report and photos.

                                                                                            Augur Buzzard
                                                                                           Little Rock Thrush
                                                                                              Long Crested Eagle
                                                                                              Red-headed Weaver
                                                                                               Somali Ostrich

Friday 2 October 2015

Cwm Drysiog

Bright sunshine after 3 days gardening was an opportunity not to be missed. Few insects about, bird life rather quiet except for a few Chiffchaff, Siskin and Linnet. Butterflies included Red Admiral, Wall and Speckled Wood. A Diamond Backed Moth was on Hemp Agrimony along with Anthophila fabricana. No Longhorns today, lots of flying ants emerging. 10 Species of Hoverflies weren't to bad considering its October. Tachinid fly Dexiosoma caninum also present.

                                                                                              Wall
                                                                                              Helophilus pendulus
                                                                                                  Platycheirus Scutatus sens.lat.

Saturday 26 September 2015

Longhorn beetle - Leptura quadrifasciata

This years record haul of Longhorn beetles continues, this time Leptura quadrifasciata at Cwm Drysiog, a small woodland valley between Bryn and Maesteg.


                                                                           Also this rather noticeable tachinid fly -  Tachina Fera

Hoverflies are becoming less noticeable, with less and less flowers available, managed 10 species today with the best being Sericomyia silentis.

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Norfolk part 3 - the hoverflies

                                                                                               Epistrophe grossulariae
                                                                                              Eumerus species
                                                                                               Eupeodes latifasciatus
                                                                                              Eupeodes luniger
                                                                                              Ferdinandea cuprea
                                                                                              Helophilus pendulus
                                                                                               Platycheirus scutatus sens. lat.
                                                                                             Sphaerophoria scripta
                                                                                              Syritta pipiens


21 species seen in total with Tropidia scita being new for me but didn't achieve a photo.

Norfolk part 2 - Animals and insects

Plenty of other wildlife about in Norfolk besides the birds

                                                                                              Common Darter - male   
                                                                                               Common Darter - female
                                                                                               Migrant Hawker
                                                                                              Sloe [hairy] Shieldbug
                                                                                              Muntjac Deer - male
                                                                                              Muntjac - female
                                                                                              Seal Pup
                                                                                            Harvestman species

Norfolk part 1 the birds

Highlights

Titchwell - Osprey, Hobby, Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Greenshank, Little Stint, Bearded Tit, Water Rail, Red Throated Diver, Common Scoter, knot, Sandwich Tern, Golden Plover.

Thornham - Spoonbill, Osprey [same], Little Egret

Hunstanton - Common Tern

Holme - Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, Little Egret, Red-legged Partridge, Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, Pink-footed Goose, Short-eared Owl, Eider

Gramborough Hill -  Marsh Harrier, Redstart

Cley Marshes - Bearded Tit, Little Egret, Greenshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Ruff, Red Throated Diver, Avocet, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Stock Dove.

Wells - Marsh Harrier, Ringtail Harrier [probably montagu's] Barn Owl

Holkham Fresh Marsh - Marsh Harrier, Red-legged Partridge, Red Kite

Burnham Norton - Marsh Harrier, Whinchat, Little Egret, Pink-footed Goose, Egyptian Goose, Golden Plover, Bearded Tit, Water Rail.

A total of 119 species were seen between the four of us - 3 up on the previous year.

                                                                                              Black-tailed Godwit
                                                                                              Avocet
                                                                                              Curlew Sandpiper
                                                                                               Greenshank
                                                                                              Little Egret
                                                                                              Marsh Harrier
                                                                                              Ruff & Curlew Sandpiper

Wednesday 16 September 2015

Garnwen today

                               Eristalis tenax [hoverfly] - showing the diagnostic thickened and curved hind tibia
                                                                   Rhingia campestris [hoverfly] - an unusually dark specimen
 Chrysotoxum arcuatum [hoverfly] - ID features include the fat pear shaped abdomen with the yellow on the third tegrite angling downwards and the length of the1st and 2nd segments on the antennae combined are shorter than the length of the 3rd segment.
                                                             Green Shieldbug - 2nd instar - quite a few of these about today.

Thursday 10 September 2015

Other Garnwen insects today

                                                                                               Gorse Shieldbug
              Meadow Grasshopper - shorter wings than abdomen and black tips to hind femora diagnostic
                                                                                                Noon Fly
                                                                                              Painted Lady
                                                                                          Small Tortoiseshell