Blaencaerau cop

 What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I had 5 species, today with a bit of fine weather I had 32 species of hoverfly. New for the year were Platycheirus clypeatus (1), Platycheirus rosarum (1), Cheilosia fraterna (1), Cheilosia illustrata (1), Cheilosia proxima (3), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Neoascia tenur (1), Sphegina elegans (1), Sphegina sibirica (3), Myathropa florea (1), Eumerus funeralis (3), Pipiza austriaca (2), Pipiza noctiluca (1) and Microdon myrmicae (1), which takes me past 50 species for the year. Most abundant species was Platycheirus albimanus (20). Other notable records included Melanostoma mellinum (3), Platycheirus tarsalis (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (1), Chalcosyrphus nemorum (2) and Xylota jakutorum (4).

Plenty of other insects on the wing including the first Dingy Skipper of the year, moths Incurvaria masculella and Ancylis badiana. Longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum, Green-Orb Spider and Ashy Mining Bee.

Birds were represented by Cuckoo (1), Whitethroat (6), House Martin (3 pairs) and at last Swift (1 pair)

Green-Orb Spider

Ashy Mining Bee

Rhagium bifasciatum

Dingy Skipper

Xylota jakutorum

Microdon myrmicae

Gilfach (west), Top Llangynwyd

 You can tell the pubs have re-opened as I had the whole place to myself for the first time in a year. The weather was rather overcast, so I only recorded 10 species of hoverfly. Sericomyia silentis (1) and Cheilosia albitarsis (2) were new for the year. The most numerous was Melanostoma scalare (65) which seem to be having a good spring. Leucozona lucorum (1) was the only other species of note.

Other insects included an emerging male Common Blue butterfly, Small White and the moths Micropterix calthella, Adela reaumurella and Silver Ground Carpet. Birds - summer visitors included Redstart (1), Whitethroat (2), Willow Warbler (3) and Chiffchaff (1). A lot of tree felling in the area means it could be a good year for Nightjar. Later on at a quick stop at the sewage works were House Martin (40), Sand Martin (3) and Barn Swallow (15). I still haven't seen Common Swift in the valley yet, must be the latest date ever.

Sericomyia silentis

Leucozona lucorum

Adela reaumurella

Common Blue emerging

Lletty Brongu woods

 Temperatures peaked at only 13c today. When I entered the woods the wind was easterly, when I left 2 hours later it had become south-westerly and strengthening. Nevertheless the sun traps within the woods held good numbers of hoverflies. I recorded 25 species, new for the year were Baccha elongata (1), Platycheirus tarsalis (1), Dasysyrphus albostriatus (1), Eupeodes luniger (1), Leucozona lucorum (2), Sphaerophoria scripta (1) and Xylota segnis (5). Most numerous were Neoascia species (200) [probably all podagrica, 10 checked to confirm], Melanostoma scalare (85), Platycheirus albimanus (65), Eristalis pertinax (58) and Rhingia campestris (22). Good records included Epistrophe eligans (2) and Chalcosyrphus nemorum (2).

Both birds and other insects were the run of the mill species, but I did have my first Green-veined White butterfly of the year.

Leucozona lucorum

Syrphus ribesii

Xylota segnis

Comma