Garnwen

Felt a little cooler today and the south east wind had a bit of a chill about it, highest temperatures reached 21c. Nevertheless the birdsong was deafening today with summer migrants well represented in Grasshopper Warbler (2), Tree Pipit (2), Willow Warbler (12), Chiffchaff (14) and Blackcap (1). Resident birds also made a showing with Siskin (1 pair) and Redpoll (1 pair) in fine voice.

As far as butterflies go, I had my first Green Hairstreak since 2014 according to my records and it was also 3 weeks earlier than any of my previous sightings. Other species included Small White (4), Orange Tip (14), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Peacock (13) and Speckled Wood (4). It was the first day this month for me to not record a Brimstone. Other notable insects today included Orange-legged Furrow Bee (5), Early-mining Bee (1), Tree Bumblebee (1), Common Wasp (1), Large Red Damselfly (3), Green Tiger Beetle (6), Bloody-nosed Beetle (1) and Adela reaumurella (1) [moth]. There were also about 20 Minnow in the largest pond. I also recorded a new leaf beetle and St Mark's fly species for the valley, but more of that when confirmed on Irecord.

12 species of hoverfly were recorded mainly on Dandelion and Sallow. First of the year in Cheilosia albitarsis (1), Platycheirus ambiguus (1) and the most numerous being Melanostoma scalare (1). Pick of the rest were Parasyrphus punctulatus (1) and Meliscaeva cinctella (1).

 Green Hairstreak - my earliest record by 3 weeks

 Large Red Damselfly 

Meliscaeva cinctella