Garnwen

Another sunny day (15c), but the wind seemed a little colder and stronger today. Nevertheless five species of hoverfly were recorded feeding on sallow blossom including new for the year Cheilosia albipila (1f), Parasyrphus punctulatus (2m) and Syrphus torvus (2m). Another emerging tachinid fly was present on the coltsfoot in Gonia picea (4) as well as a single Tachina ursina. More Brimstone (2) and Peacock (3) also feeding on sallow. Finally 4 Chiffchaff were singing on the bird front.

 Brimstone

 Cheilosia albipila

Gonia picea (tachinid fly)

Lower Valley

Continuing sunshine (16c) meant insects were out in greater numbers and also a few more species  were emerging. Hoverfly numbers continue to increase with Eristalis pertinax (4) and Platycheirus albimanus (1) present at Cwm Darren Woods and Eristalis pertinax (11), Eupeodes corollae (2) and Platycheirus albimanus (12) at Lletty Brongu woods.

 The Large Bee-fly was present in good numbers at both sites and Tree Bumblebee at Cwm Darren woods was the first for the year. 4 species of butterfly were seen with Brimstone (6) looking like it might be having a good year. In fact I've seen more of them in the last 2 days than in the whole of last year. Comma (2), Peacock (3) and Small Tortoiseshell (2) were at their usual places. Also seen at Cwm Darren woods was a Common Lizard sunning on the stone-walls near the river and farm area.

Chiffchaffs were singing at Cwm Darren woods (2) and Lletty Brongu woods (2). 2 male Pheasant were flushed around Lletty Brongu woods. The rookery at Llangynwyd still has 5 nests while the one at Garth has increased to 4 nests.

Building work continues at the sewage works compound and they have dug up and removed the reed-beds meaning no-more Reed Warbler breeding records and now no chance of Cetti's Warbler for the valley. They have also cut down the trees that have been a favourite haunt for Yellow-browed Warbler during the autumn in recent years and probably there will be fewer hirundines at least when the building work goes on.

 Common Lizard

 Large Bee-fly

 Comma

Eristalis pertinax

Sunshine at last

Stopped at a few places today for a good look around in the 15c sunshine and it looks like spring has just officially kicked off. 5 species of hoverfly today with Cheilosia proxima (1), Cheilosia pagana (2), Episyrphus balteatus (1) and Eristalis pertinax (1) at Garnwen on either sallow blossom or coltsfoot. While at Mynydd Bach gorse area above the school had Eristalis pertinax (2), Eristalis tenax (1) and Episyrphus balteatus (1) on early blossoming Blackthorn.

Four species of butterfly were on the wing for the first time this year  - Peacock, Comma, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell. Other insects including Tachina ursina (1), Kidney-spot Ladybird (10), Honey Bee (20), Andrena bee species male (1) and Buff-tailed Bumblebee (10).

The first summer visitors of the year have returned in 5 Chiffchaff at Caerau (1) and Mynydd Bach (4). There also seemed to be a lot of Goldfinch about where there have been very few this winter - Garnwen (6) and Mynydd Bach (15). Siskins were displaying at Garnwen and Long-tailed Tits were nest building at Mynydd Bach.

With fine warm weather forecast for the next few days, perhaps a few more insects will emerge.

 Tachina ursina

 Small Tortoiseshell

Kidney-spot Ladybird

Garnwen

A bit of a bright spell between the gloom around noon meant I had time for a quick look around Garnwen. I managed to find 3 species of hoverfly, Platycheirus albimanus and Episyrphus balteatus feeding on Coltsfoot and an Eristalis pertinax on what little sallow was in blossom, the main crop still being 2 or 3 weeks away at this site. The only other insects were a couple of Dung Fly species and 5 Buff-tailed Bumblebee.

Not much on the bird front, no summer visitors yet, but the Rooks have started building nests 3 at Garth and 5 at Llangynwyd so far, probably more to come.

Episyrphus balteatus

 Platycheirus albimanus

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Valley hoverfly list update

Over the last week I have been reviewing the valley list to bring it in line with records held by the hoverfly recording scheme (official records) who kindly sent me a data set for SS88 and SS89. There were a number of discrepancies and I have had to remove three species from our list - details below.

1. Cheilosia Grossa - a good photograph or specimen is required for identification, we could provide neither so species removed from list. It would be scarce for this part of the UK.

2. Eumerus funeralis - a specimen is required for identification. Photographs taken can only show the family level aggregate, so again this species has been removed from the list, but kept as "Eumerus species".

3. Pipiza virens - a specimen is required for identification as it can't be done from photographs, all the valley specimens for Pipiza have turned out to be Pipiza viduata. Pipiza virens is not expected in this part of the UK. so removed from or list.


All other species on the list have either been confirmed by specimen or photographs. There have been no species to add to the list and any record errors have been rectified for the valley in the data set .This means the valley list now stands at 131 species. I have altered the lists as appropriate on the right hand side of the home page.

Garnwen and Drysiog loop

With the weather back to normal for the time of year there was a distinct lack of insects, birds and spring blooms. The only sighting of note was at a small pond where 100+ Common Toad were in a mating frenzy, with a lot of Toad spawn wrapped around the underwater vegetation. Some of the toads were an odd colour, but I am assured on Ispot that they are just Common Toads.