Cwm Sychbant Valley, Maesteg

Went out early to avoid the temperature, but it was still 21c by 1000hrs and increased to 27c by the time I got back to the car at 1400hrs.  Nevertheless I still managed to record 29 species of hoverfly with the highlights being Didea fasciata and another Criorhina berberina variation oxyacanthae. All the usual insects were supplemented by Welsh Chafer Beetle and my first Common Damsel Bug [Nabis rugosus]. Other goodies included longhorn Rutpela maculata, Red Admiral, Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Forest Cuckoo Bee and rather a lot of [20+] Notch-horned Cleg. I also stumbled upon a young Deer which I think was Fallow Deer. Tomorrow is going to be warmer again, so there should be a big drop off in hovers with the best chance being wood near a river at the bottom end of the valley.

 Didea fasciata

 Episyrphus balteatus - a large and colourful individual [probably a migrant from the continent]

 Welsh Chafer

 Rutpela maculata [again 😼]

Common Damsel Bug - full grown nymph