Back to Gilfach (West) twice

 With the continuing good weather by day (17c), I made a couple more visits to Gilfach . With the car park Sallow attracting a lot of hovers as it did last year, but it bloomed 2 weeks earlier giving me a better stab at finding Melangyna quadrimaculata. After about 20 minutes of staring at every blossom I finally connected with said species, a well coloured male and being new for the valley to boot (number 145). There were also good numbers of early spring species about as well including Melangyna lasiophthalma (41), Parasyrphus punctulatus (2) and Platycheirus scutatus (1). 13 species in all were recorded over two visits.

Other insects seen were Black Oil-beetle, the butterflies Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock, the tachinid fly Tachina ursina and Tree, Early and Buff-tailed Bumblebee. On the bird front the first Chiffchaff of the year was singing and a fine male Crossbill seemed to be defending a nesting area.

*** Update news - Paul Tabor photographed a Cheilosia grossa at Lletty Brongu woods, which was new for the valley (number 146). ***

Melangyna lasiophthalma

Meliscaeva cinctella

Platycheirus albimanus

Platycheirus scutatus s.l.

I also photographed by luck a couple of odd looking hoverflies which I think are one over-coloured T2 and one melanic Melangyna lasiophthalma - see below

Other insects

Black Oil-beetle

Peacock

Small Tortoiseshell

Gilfach (west)

 A fine sunny day peaking at 14c, had a few species of hoverfly feeding on the emerging Sallow blossom. Firsts for the year included Melangyna lasiophthalma (3), Meliscaeva auricollis (2) and Syrphus torvus (1). Also present were Eristalis pertinax (4) and Eristalis tenax (1).

Other insects included Honey Bee, Tree and Buff-tailed Bumblebee. Also 2 Roe Deer were on the edge of a forestry track. No summer migrant birds returning as yet. Ground flowers blossoming included Lesser Celandine, Opposite-leaved Saxifrage, Coltsfoot and Primrose.

Melangyna lasiophthalma

Meliscaeva auricollis

And we're off

 At Lletty Brongu sewage works and river today there were 4 male Eristalis pertinax  feeding on Sallow Blossom and a single male Eristalis tenax basking on the dead Japanese Knotweed stalks.

The only other insects were 3 Honey Bees and about 5 species of unknown flies and midges. The first blossoms have started to emerge in Sallow, Lesser Celandine and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage. Very little on the bird front with Goldcrest being the best observation.

Eristalis pertinax

Lesser Celandine heralding the first signs of Spring