Today's walk was to suss out the state of play for the forthcoming hoverfly season. Hazel catkins were producing pollen but sallow blossom is weeks away. A few Lesser Celandine were blooming near the river but nothing was feeding on anything except for gnats and midges. I did stumble onto my first hoverfly of the year basking on Bramble leaves, a male Eristalis pertinax. No other insect families were on the wing or ground dwelling.
Plenty of birds were singing, with a pair of Grey Wagtail and Dipper holding territory along the river, where I also flushed 2 male Mallard and a female Sparrowhawk flew overhead. Treecreeper, Wood Nuthatch and Goldcrest were amongst the tit flocks. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also heard drumming.
Hazel catkins starting to produce pollen
Lesser Celandine only a few lone flowers in bloom
male Eristalis pertinax - first of the year
