Sunday 9 April 2023

Easter weekend highlights

 Some fine weather saw me spending time outside for a change, with visits to Spelter, Cwmfelin Park and Gilfach (west).

Hoverflies are now starting to emerge in numbers, albeit a few weeks later than normal. Recorded 11 species of hoverfly with the pick being Melangyna lasiophthalma and Parasyrphus punctulatus. Hoverflies are still a bit skittish and difficult to photograph.

Other insects are also starting to emerge with Tachina ursina the pick of the flies, while Minotaur beetles are wandering near horse dung  and a few caterpillars out in the spring sunshine including Angle Shades.


Melanostoma scalare
Angle Shades larva
Tachina ursina
Minotaur Beetle
Melangyna lasiophthalma

On the bird front Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler numbers are starting to build and there seems to be a lot of Bullfinch about this year. Red Kites are also becoming more noticeable of late. 


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