A rather disappointing walk around the COP was only livened up with the finding of a 10 strong colony of Essex Skipper along the old railway track/path behind Railway Terrace, only my second sighting for the valley.
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The temperatures topped 30c for a short while this afternoon, so I thought I would have to work hard for any insects today. But the first Hogweed flowers next to the car that I checked held an Eriozona Syrphiodes which is both rare and new for the year. The Hogweed was in full bloom and made life much easier, I recorded 24 species of hoverfly. Epistrophe Grossulariae was also new for the year (number 91).Other delights included Leucozona glaucia (2), Leucozona laternaria (9), Scaeva pyrastri (1) and Xanthogramma pedissequum (1). Most numerous hoverfly was Cheilosia illustrata (42).
Plenty of other insects were about including the Tachinid flies Phasia hemiptera and Lophosia fasciata. The micro moth Pammene aurana count today was 25 on Hogweed, the most I've seen at a single site. The Broad Centurian soldierfly is becoming more numerous after a lean year and a Red Admiral led the butterflies.
A scorching 27c with very light breeze meant that most insects were hiding from the direct sunlight. I managed to find 13 species of hoverfly only. With nothing worthy of note amongst them. However the micro moth Pammene aurana was out in good numbers (18). I also stumbled on the longhorn beetle Rutpela maculata and a few six-spot Burnet moths. Unlike other insects butterflies were loving the sunshine with Ringlet being very noticeable amongst the taller grass areas.
On Thursday over Caerau there were 17 juvenile swift screaming about. I located 6 nests this year, so that's about right, although there maybe one more that I missed somewhere. The George Street colony (4 pairs) were leaving their nests as I passed by, with the adults flying close to the rooves coaxing them out and they all came out at once flying just above my head which was quite spectacular. I used to see this regularly when I was younger but not so much now.
Went out early today to avoid the mid day heat. I walked the entire Sychbant valley and mountain ridges. This involved three 1km squares, two of which were previously "0" squares for hoverflies. Cwm Sychbant [SS8490] held twelve species while the zero squares of of Moel Sychbant [SS8489] and Waun-Lleust Wen [SS8389] both held 11 species each. There are only now three squares left in the valley with zero hoverfly records - Cefn Ydfa, Moel Cynhordy (north), Moel Cynhordy (south) - I will get round to these in due time.
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly a female Volucella zonaria near the start of the walk. Other goodies included Leucozona laternaria, Scaeva pyrastri (migrant) and a rather late Sericomyia lappona.
With the Bramble flowering a little bit late and the Hogweed flowering a little bit early. It's the first time that they have been in flower together as far as I can remember. Moel Sychbant and Waun-Llest Wen both had the rare longhorn beetle Stictoleptura rubra. Lots of Ringlet butterflies about too, as was a second brood Comma. Otherwise the insects were the usual suspects.
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Stopped at a few places on the way home from work for an hour this week. Some photos of the wildlife seen below.
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A 2 hour break in the weather at 1600hrs, had me reaching for the camera and walking boots for a quick stroll around the C.O.P. 20 species of hoverfly were recorded with Leucozona laternaria new for the year. Other highlights included an unseasonal Leucozona lucorum, Scaeva pyrastri and another Chrysotoxum bicinctum.
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With the poor weather continuing, here's a few more picture's from brief wanderings last week to fill the gap.
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