Caerau

 Saturday was cloudy but fine on occasions. Caerau at this time of year has a lot to offer with Ivy, Michaelmas Daisy, Japanese Knotweed and Devilsbit Scabious all blooming. I recorded a healthy 28 species in not so ideal weather. New for the year was the migrant Xanthandrus comtus, taking me to 106 for the year. My best haul for five years. Other highlights included Eristalis intricaria, Helophilus hybridus, Helophilus trivittatus and 2 female Volucella zonaria on a single late Bramble bloom. There were good numbers of Helophilus pendulus (23) and Sericomyia silentis (18) feeding on Devilsbit Scabious. But the most numerous species was again Eristalis tenax (110).

A few insect highlights included the butterflies Painted Lady and Red Admiral, the larva of Elephant Hawkmoth on a path. Other flies included the monster Dark Giant Horsefly and my first record of the harvestman Opilio canestrinii. Nothing special on the bird front though.

Eristalis intricaria

Myathropa florea

Rhingia rostrata

Volucella zonaria

Xanthrandrus comtus

Dark Giant horsefly

Elephant Hawkmoth (larva)

Opilio canestrinii

Painted Lady