Foel-y-Dyffryn/Foel Trawsnant

First venture up the mountains this year in warm sunshine [15c] but no Wheatear in yet. So did a Skylark count and found 19 pairs displaying and holding territory, supported by 35 pairs of Meadow Pipit and 2 pairs of Stonechat. Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap could be heard down in Tudor Woods. As expected insects were low in numbers up here but a Speckled Wood and male Orange Tip were the first of the year. 3 species of hoverfly and the same with Bees. Green Tiger Beetles were common along the paths.

 Speckled Wood

 Skylark

 My. Bach from the top of Foel-y-Dyffryn complete with new wind turbines on My. Caerau behind.

 Episyrphus balteatus - the early spring brood [above] which is just about over is a lot darker than the summer migrants [example below]. The experts reckon that this is a temperature related phenomena, meaning the colder the weather at the pupa stage the darker/more black the insect