Whitebeam tree (Sorbus aria) at Blaencaerau

 

I walked this area at Blaencaerau a thousand times and not noticed this Common Whitebeam before, I had it confirmed on Ispot to be sure. Whitebeam hasn't been recorded in the valley before at least not by me. It is about 2 metres high and is probably flowering for the first time. It is far away from the ornamental planted trees of this reclamation site and has probably grown naturally over the last couple of years. Whitebeam can grow up to 20 metres in height, so should be quite imposing on the landscape in future 

Caerau/Blaencaerau

 My new all encompassing 2 - 1 km square walk took me four hours and produced a decent 36 species of hoverfly. New for the year were Dasysyrphus tricinctus, Eupeodes corollae, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Cheilosia lasiopa, Neoascia tenur, Volucella pellucens and Microdon myrmicae agg. Good numbers are staring to now emerge and a few species have quite high totals like Cheilosia  albitarsis (53), Melongaster hirtella (62), Sphegina sibirica (30) and Xylota segnis (50). Numbers will start to increase for other species rapidly in the next few weeks if the weather holds. But this year there seems to be a lack of Eupeodes about after last year good showing.

Longhorn beetles are starting to emerge, 2 species today and also the first Small Copper butterfly of the year was seen. Garden Chafer and Thick-knee beetles are becoming common as are the moths Burnet Companion and Common Heath.

All the summer breeding birds have returned with good numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap present, supplemented by singing singles of Cuckoo and Grasshopper Warbler. 1 nest of House Martin so far located in the streets and Swifts are building up, but there seems a severe lack of Swallows about. 

Dasysyrphus tricinctus

Eristalis horticola

Cheilosia illustrata

Volucella pellucens

Microdon myrmicae agg.

Xylota jakutorum

Pachytodes cerambyciformis

Rhagium bifasciatum

Burnet companion

caterpillar - either 5- or 6-spot Burnet (not hairy enough for narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet)

***** post edit - It is hairy enough and has been accepted as a Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet by the county recorder ***

Finally on a lighter note, some member of the public has been sticking up plastic butterflies in the trees around the C.O.P. First one I noticed had my heart miss a beat or two until my brain caught up with the rest of my body.

Last couple of days

 Visited Maesteg Golf Course area and had 15 species after work with Platycheirus rosarum new for the year, otherwise fairly quiet.

Yesterday stopped at Gilfach (west) up Top Llangynwyd. A Sericomyia lappona was new for the year and also the 100th species for the site, a write up will follow later. That's 4 sites now past the 100 barrier. Also new for the year was an early Chrysogaster solstitialis on Cow Parsley. The Hawthorn and Ground Elder are yet to bloom, probably another 10 days yet.  A total of 20 species of hoverfly were seen. A male and female Cuckoo were seen mating, I think this is the first time I've witnessed this.

Eristalis tenax

Sericomyia silentis

Xylota segnis

Bluebell patch

Germander Speedwell

Heath Speedwell

Caerau old railway track

 With Blaencaerau way past the 100 species mark, I have now decided to concentrate on the Caerau  1 km square, which stood at 78 species before today. I managed to add another three species taking it to 81. All in all I recorded 37 species of hoverfly, with new for the year being Paragus haemorrhous, Chrysogaster virescens, Eristalis horticola, Merodon equestris, Volucella bombylans and Xylota jakutorum. 

Lots of butterflies emerged today including 4 Dingy Skipper. All the bumblebee and bee species expected were on the wing, as were numerous species of day flying moths. The beetle highlight was a Hazel Leaf-roller weevil (Apoderus coryli) which was new for the site and new for the valley for me also. 

Cuckoos were calling from both sides of the valley and numerous Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were in song. Finally Swifts were seen entering their holes under the rooves in my street for the first time this year and I have a pair of Starling nesting in my roof for the first time.

Myathropa florea

Rhingia rostrata

Merodon equestris

Eumerus species, which can't be done by photos, but in the hand turned out to be Eumerus funeralis

Apoderus coryli (Hazel leaf-roller Weevil)

Hoverflies at Lletty Brongu and other things

 Warm spring weather and Lletty Brongu is starting to awaken, with new for the year hoverflies in Dasysyrphus pinastri (f), Pipizella viduata (2), Episyrphus balteatus (2), Cheilosia vernalis (1), Eumerus funeralis (1) and Cheilosia proxima (1). General hoverfly numbers are starting to rise as well. Sycamore is now in blossom and attracts all kinds of stuff, Hawthorn will be next followed by umbellifers like Ground Elder and Hemlock-water droplet, then numbers will really kick off.

Cuckoo's seem to be everywhere as do Red Kites and Pheasant but Swallows are thin on the ground. The Nettle beds means other insect numbers are becoming more apparent.

Leucozona lucorum

Rhagium mordax - longhorn beetle

Red-headed cardinal beetle

Pheasant

Wood Speedwell