Cwm Nant Gwyn

Garnwen is plagued by walkers, so I payed a visit to Cwm Nant Gwyn. Not many if any people walk here and the paths are now becoming badly overgrown at the bottom end, nevertheless I had a good loop walk around.

18 species of hoverfly were seen, new for the year were Platycheirus clypeatus, Chrysotoxum cautum, Dasysyrphus albostriatus, Cheilosia variabilis, Eristalis arbustorum and my 50th species for the year in Myathropa florea (116 species seen in 2019). Good numbers of Rhingia campestris (33) were feeding on Bluebell, other highlights included Platycheirus ambiguus (f), Platycheirus clypeatus (m) Rhingia rostrata (m) and a dark form Leucozona lucorum (m). The Parasyrphus nigritarsis egg I had a few days ago has hatched and has munched its way through all the beetle larva so I had to replenish stock.

My first Azure Damselfly of the year was seen as was Welsh Chafer beetle and my first Orange-legged Robberfly, a local species in South Wales oak woods. The woods were covered in caterpillars, more than I have ever seen, most were hanging by threads and I was covered in them by the time I got back to the car.  

Summer arriving birds were in fine song in Redstart (3m), Garden Warbler (m), Spotted Flycatcher (1), Whitethroat (1m), Blackcap (6m), Willow Warbler (12m), Chiffchaff (5m) and a Cuckoo (1m). No Pied Flycatcher so far this year yet though.

Chrysotoxum cautum (female)

Chrysotoxum cautum (male)

Orange-legged Robberfly

Mottled Umber (larva)

Large Orange Fungus on Oak Tree, don't know anything bout fungi but this one stood out a mile, comments welcome.