Blaencaerau (Sunday)

From 1100-1300 hrs we had sunshine and warm temps (20c) and insects particularly hoverflies and bees were everywhere. Then it clouded over and they all disappeared for the next 3hrs. I recorded 31 species of hoverfly, 1 short of my best May tally, but that will increase as I took 12 specimens and at least half a dozen species there. New for the year were Platycheirus angustatus, Chrysogaster virescens, Chrysogaster solstitialis, Neoascia tenur, Orthonevra nobilis, Riponnensia splendens, Eristalis horticola, Parasyrphus versicolor, Myathropa florea, Pipizella viduata and Syritta pipiens, The most numerous species was Cheilosia albitarsis agg. and other good records include Cheilosia fraterna (1) and Rhingia rostrata (1). Two of the specimens are new for the valley but I will await confirmation before adding - Eumerus strigatus (10), finally nailed this family down as 10 were feeding on Dogwood next to Yellow Flag Iris, I collected 1 and it is 100% strigatus. Also I collected a Parhelophilus from a new site and it is a male with a ventral hair projection on the hind femur making it frutetorum.

Another feature of today were the large numbers of bees about headed by Tree Bumblebee (300). I also stumbled on a Southern Pill Woodlouse on a breeze block wall at the back of Caerau Road.

 Rhingia rostrata

 Eumerus sp. - specimen says strigatus

 Pipzella sp. - specimen says viduata

 Hawthorn Shieldbug

Southern Pill Woodlouse

quick note

Visited Blaencaerau today and had 31 species of hoverfly + 2 specimens that look good for new for the valley, no time today so will update tomorrow

Cwm Sychbant

A warm fine day (18c) with very little wind was rewarded with 22 species of hoverfly. New for the year were Platycheirus peltatus, Cheilosia illustrata, Sphegina sibirica and Sericomyia silentis. Again the most common was Melanostoma scalare (15), with other good species being Platycheirus tarsalis (6) all on Bluebell, Parasyrphus punctulatus (2) including a melanic female, Baccha elongata (1).

Butterflies were back out in numbers with seven species being seen today including Brimstone (3). A very large Nursery Web Spider basking on sun lit leaves was a first for me and the first Brown Silver-lines of the year was noted. Usual bee and beetle species about that I can identify and many that I cannot particularly bees. A few Large Red Damselfly around the water courses. This area is best between 1300-1500hrs to get direct sunlight.

A Cuckoo was constantly calling and other summer migrants included Whitethroat (1), Blackcap (8), Willow Warbler (10), Chiffchaff (5) and a pair of Swallow inspecting a local barn. Resident breeders were 1 pair each of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting, Raven and Green Woodpecker.

 Nursery Web Spider

 Cheilosia illustrata

Xylota segnis

Garnwen revisited.

Back up Garnwen, although sunny a cool NW wind kept temperatures down to 13c, so insect numbers and species was down on last time. 15 species of hoverfly headed by the first of the year for Cheilosia fraterna and Dasysyrphus albostriatus as well as Criorhina berberina and Epistrophe eligans, all on Sycamore.

Other insects  included 100+ Tree Bumblebee and an Early Bumblebee. Beetles were represented by Green Tiger Beetle and the rather odd looking Bloody-nosed Beetle Larva, Still good numbers of Orange Tip (15) and now Green-veined White (30) was joined by a single Holly Blue feeding high up in a Sycamore.  The longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum also made its first appearance of the year. Otherwise same species that had previously been reported.

Summer breeders were in good voice with Sedge Warbler (2), Whitethroat (6), Willow Warbler (8), Blackcap (6) and Chiffchaff (4) all singing. A couple of Swallow have returned to the barn near the golf course and were feeding over the moor. Residents included Stonechat (1 pair), Reed Bunting (2 pair), Goldfinch (2 pair), Siskin (2 pair) and Lesser Redpoll (1 pair).

 Rhagium bifasciatum

 Bloody-nosed Beetle larva

Cheilosia albitarsis agg.

Cheilosia fraterna - looks similar to albitarsis at first glance, but notice the orange hind tibia.

Garnwen comes alive !

Weather has been pretty overcast lately, but today for a few hours at least it was sunny and warm out of the wind. There are 2 Sycamores along the track that are now in full bloom and today in the sunshine they provided 93 hoverflies of 25 species coming and going to feed and in the surrounding area. This is the time of year when things really start to liven up on the hoverfly front and marks the start of the true hoverfly season, when anything can turn up. So I'll give a full list for once of what I recorded.

Melanostoma mellinum (2), Melanostoma scalare (15), Platycheirus albimanus (8), Platycheirus clypeatus (1), Platycheirus scutatus (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (3), Epistrophe eligans (1), Episyrphus balteatus (1), Eupeodes luniger (1), Leucozona lucorum (1), Melangyna lasiophthalma (2), Meliscaeva auricollis (2), Meliscaeva cinctella (2), Syrphus ribesii (12), Syrphus torvus (1), Cheilosia albitarsis (6), Cheilosia bergenstammi (1), Cheilosia pagana (3), Cheilosia proxima (2), Cheilosia variabilis (1), Rhingia campestris (5), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Neoascia podagrica (1), Eristalis pertinax (4), Helophilus pendulus (1).

For anytime of the year that would be a great haul, but for early May it is quite exceptional for the valley, but the story doesn't end there. I also took a few specimens of things I couldn't identify in the field, amongst them were three interesting specimens. I believe that I have Dasysyrphus neovenustus (new for Wales), Brachyopa pilosa (new for Glamorgan) and Cheilosia vicina, . I will just have to wait till the end of the year for confirmation from Roger Morris of the hoverfly recording scheme.

Many things get away while attempting to take specimens. My first instinct is to try and capture something new rather than photograph it, so today I probably missed a Cheilosia nebulosa (would have been new for the valley). I also came across an odd Cheilosia which I photographed (just), a pair were vigorously defending a patch of Mouse-ear Hawkweed and would chase off any encroaching flies. All my attempts to catch one failed so I just have a photo to mull over what could have been.

This is the mystery Cheilosia defending Mouse-ear Hawkweed and was medium to large for a Cheilosia. There are two species that lay eggs on M-EH but both "psilophthalma" and "urbana"  are small for Cheilosia.

Lletty Brongu woods

The only time you can now properly visit the woods and sewage works is at the weekend, when there is a halt to the building work and you can walk downstream from the bridge by slipping through the temporary barriers. Todays venture produced another 20 species haul for hoverflies, with new for the year in Platycheirus granditarsus (female), Platycheirus tarsalis (male - earliest date), Dasysyrphus venustus (male-sternites checked to eliminate "neovenustus", a new species recently split from venustus, also earliest date), Eupeodes luniger (female), Leucozona lucorum (female), Rhingia rostrata (male) and Criorhina berberina (male variation "oxyacanthae"). Most numerous species was Melanostoma scalare (35), and other highlights were Epistrophe eligans (2) and Neoascia meticulosa (male).

No other special birds or insects, but did have my first Early Bumblebee of the year feeding on Ramsons and 2 variations of Harlequin Ladybird. Amongst the throngs of Micropterix calthella was a single Cauchas rufimitrella (I think ?).

 Cauchas rufimitrella

   Criorhina berberina - variation "oxyacanthae"

Hoverfly data

2018 was a fairly good year for the valley with 107 species recorded for the valley, with 99 species in SS89 (upper valley) and 90 species in SS88 (lower valley), helped no doubt by a number of species taken as specimens in both 10km squares. Now that all data for 2018 has been up loaded to the hoverfly recording scheme website, we see that our two squares were the best recorded in number of species for 2018. So far in 2019 I have recorded 31 species and that will increase dramatically during May. Top 3 sites are listed below.

1st

 2nd

 3rd

New insects for valley

As new records from the other recorders trickle in, our valley list for fauna now stands at 1570 species. The following three species have been added to the list and are new for me if not the valley.

 Bibio Marci - Bibionidae are known as St. Mark's Fly, because they regularly first appear on St. Mark's Day (25th April). There are 18 species in this genus and this one is the largest (12-16mm).

 Lochmaea caprea - is a leaf beetle that feeds on willow and birch, there are 2 similar species but one feeds on heather and the other Hawthorn and are unlikely to be seen together or far away from their food plant.

 Nephrotoma appendiculata - a member of the crane-fly sub-family Nephrotoma of which there are 15 species and are known as Tiger Crane-flies for their unique striped pattern. This species is the commonest of all.


Baccha elongata (hoverfly) - one I forgot from yesterday, as I had it in a pot and was my earliest record for the year of this species.

Last few days

Weather being poor lately, with storm Hannah wiping out 4 days recording. But the last 2 days and particularly today were much better. Hoverfly numbers are steadily increasing and today was my first 20 species haul of the year (Blaencaerau). New for the year were Paragus haemorrhous, Cheilosia bergenstammi, Melongaster hirtella, Neoascia meticulosa and Sphegina clunipes. Highest recorded was Platycheirus albimanus (50) and best of the day was Chrysotoxum arcuatum (male). We are only 10 days away now from the spring explosion when numbers and species increase dramatically over the space of a few days.

Not much on the insect front to report, but I have 4 species on Irecord awaiting confirmation which could be new for the valley, will report if confirmed. Orange-tip butterflies are still out in good numbers and seems to be its best year for a while as is Brimstone. Thought I had a Brown-banded Carder Bee today but it took flight before I could photograph it, so that's one that got away 😞.

Cuckoos are now in and Whitethroat numbers are increasing as are Grasshopper Warblers. Swifts should start arriving in the next 10 days if the weather holds. Took a trip to Gloucestershire on Thursday just before the storm arrived to see a Citrine Wagtail at Pilning wetland reserve on the Severn estuary, which was a British Tick for me. But I missed the same species that was found in Glamorgan on Saturday.

 Meliscaeva auricollis

Parasyrphus punctulatus

Blaencaerau

Last of the warm weather today according to the weather reports. Very heavy today, with the weather just waiting to break with maybe a thunderstorm. Again good numbers of summer migrants in song and included Grasshopper Warbler (1), Tree Pipit (2), Whitethroat (3), Willow Warbler (30), Chiffchaff (12) and Blackcap (4). Otherwise Green Woodpecker and Great-spotted Woodpecker were noticeable.

5 species of butterfly, Orange-tip (12) the most numerous. 5 species of bee with Common Carder Bee (2) new for the year. Also new for the year was the micro moth Micropterix calthella (12) joining the ever present Adela reaumurella (20). Lots of Bibio lanigerus (50) flies and still a couple of the tachinid fly Gonia picea (2).

Late blossoming Sallow attracted 15 species of hoverfly including first of the year records in Chrysotoxum arcuatum (2), Megasyrphus erratica (1), Meliscaeva auricollis (1) and Helophilus pendulus (1). Most numerous being Platycheirus albimanus (25) and good records being Melanostoma mellinum (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (2) and Cheilosia pagana (1).

 Helophilus pendulus

 Micropterix calthella

Adela reaumurella

Garnwen

Felt a little cooler today and the south east wind had a bit of a chill about it, highest temperatures reached 21c. Nevertheless the birdsong was deafening today with summer migrants well represented in Grasshopper Warbler (2), Tree Pipit (2), Willow Warbler (12), Chiffchaff (14) and Blackcap (1). Resident birds also made a showing with Siskin (1 pair) and Redpoll (1 pair) in fine voice.

As far as butterflies go, I had my first Green Hairstreak since 2014 according to my records and it was also 3 weeks earlier than any of my previous sightings. Other species included Small White (4), Orange Tip (14), Small Tortoiseshell (1), Peacock (13) and Speckled Wood (4). It was the first day this month for me to not record a Brimstone. Other notable insects today included Orange-legged Furrow Bee (5), Early-mining Bee (1), Tree Bumblebee (1), Common Wasp (1), Large Red Damselfly (3), Green Tiger Beetle (6), Bloody-nosed Beetle (1) and Adela reaumurella (1) [moth]. There were also about 20 Minnow in the largest pond. I also recorded a new leaf beetle and St Mark's fly species for the valley, but more of that when confirmed on Irecord.

12 species of hoverfly were recorded mainly on Dandelion and Sallow. First of the year in Cheilosia albitarsis (1), Platycheirus ambiguus (1) and the most numerous being Melanostoma scalare (1). Pick of the rest were Parasyrphus punctulatus (1) and Meliscaeva cinctella (1).

 Green Hairstreak - my earliest record by 3 weeks

 Large Red Damselfly 

Meliscaeva cinctella

Lletty Woods

Another hot day at 24c so I stuck to the cover of the woods and river area. My first Kingfisher of the year was seen going down river and a pair of Pheasant ran across the entrance lane and into the scrub. Grey Wagtail and Dipper were present on the river but I don't think they are nesting yet. Otherwise migrants included Blackcap (10), Willow Warbler (6) and Chiffchaff (2).

Butterflies were in good numbers for some species and included Brimstone (7), Orange-tip (8), Small White (4) and Peacock (1). New insects for the year included Large Red Damselfly, 14-spot Ladybird, Harlequin Ladybird, Bronze Shieldbug (1) and a rather unfriendly Hornet (1). Bee-flies and Honey Bee still in good numbers.

Sycamore blossom is just starting and Bluebell, Wood Speedwell and Ramsons joined the Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone and Marsh Marigold in flower. Meaning I recorded 7 species of hoverfly with new for the year in Epistrophe eligans (2) and Rhingia campestris (1) and the most numerous being Melanostoma scalare (17).

Building work is moving along quickly in the sewage works with a new bridge across the river already finished for the heavy lorries to come.

 14-spot Ladybird

 Harlequin Ladybird

Bronze Shieldbug

AM/PM

 The temperature hit a balmy 24c today, so I avoided the hottest part of the day and spent the morning around the Maesteg cemetery/school area and the late afternoon around Foel Fawr above Caerau.

Maesteg cemetery/school area

Plenty of Blackcap (3), Willow Warbler (25) and Chiffchaff (6) singing as well as 2 pairs of Greenfinch and 3 pairs of Goldfinch. Good numbers of butterfly on the wing in Speckled Wood (7), Brimstone (4), Orange-tip (12), Peacock (8) and my earliest Small Copper (1). Hoverflies numbered seven species headed by Cheilosia albipila and new for the year Neoascia podagrica. Orange-legged Furrow Bee made its first appearance of the year was the best of the rest.

Foel Fawr, Caerau

Lots of new summer migrants have arrived in Wheatear (pair) nest prospecting, Tree Pipit (2 male), Grasshopper Warbler (1 male), Whitethroat (1 male), Willow Warbler (8 male) and Chiffchaff (2 male) were all singing and reeling furiously. Resident birds included Stonechat (4 pairs), Linnet (2 pairs), Reed Bunting (2 pairs), Jay (1 pair) and Meadow Pipit (8 pairs). Butterflies included Brimstone (1), Speckled Wood (4), Peacock (3), Orange-tip (4) and Green-veined White (2). There were no hoverflies about but insects making their first appearance of the year included Common Earwig, Green Tiger Beetle and 7-spot Ladybird. I also photographed a slug species which looks like Dusky Slug but I need it confirmed on Irecord as my skill at being a "slugger" is wanting to say the least. (***update - Ha! shows how much I know about slugs - this is a Green-soled Slug (Durham Slug) ***)

 Tree Pipit

 Small Copper - my earliest record

Slug species - Irecord confirmed as Green-soled slug (Arion flagellus)

Garnwen

The fine weather finally brought in a mini fall of summer birds with Willow Warbler (20) and Blackcap (6) at last joining the Chiffchaff (3), otherwise a pair of Siskin displaying and small numbers of Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Goldfinch the pick of the rest. No Tree Pipit or Whitethroat in as yet.

Most of the Sallow blossom has finished and has been replaced by Blackthorn, so hoverflies are starting to pick up. I had ten species today with new for the year Melanostoma mellinum (1), Syrphus ribesii (1), Syrphus vitripennis (1) and Xylota segnis (1, and earliest date for valley). Parasyrphus punctulatus (3) still the best hoverfly about.

Butterflies were more numerous than last week with Orange-tip (4) and Speckled Wood (2) new for the year as well as Brimstone (3) and Peacock (5). Other insects seen included Honey Bee (120), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (5) and the moths Adela reaumurella (15) and Cydia ulicetana (2).

 Orange-tip (male)

Syrphus ribesii (female with yellow hind femur)

Pont Rhyd-y-Cyff lanes

A walk around the lanes of lower Llangynwyd with fine weather meant that the summer migrants are now starting to return. Both Willow Warbler (2) and Blackcap (2) were singing and Chiffchaff (10) numbers increasing. Overhead raptors were soaring in Buzzard (8), Red Kite (1) and Goshawk (female) with a Swallow flying north also.

There were less butterflies than there have been lately with only Comma (1) and Peacock (2) present. Tree Bumblebees are becoming more noticeable and there are still good numbers of Honey Bee feeding. Hoverfly numbers are yet to pick up but I did have the first of the year for Melanostoma scalare. I also recorded two new flies for myself in the valley a Tachinid and a St Mark's Fly species, although Paul Tabor has recorded them before me, see below.

 The Tachinid fly Gymnocheta viridis is often found sunning itself on the tree trunks in sun traps in the woods. As I said in a previous post Tachinid flies are parasitoidic, that is they lay their eggs in the host caterpillars and the larva/grubs then eat the host alive before pupating. This species has been recorded inside the larva of the moths Shaded Broad Bar, Small Wainscot, Common Rustic and Small Dotted Buff. Not a rare species by any means but is new for the valley. There is one similar species but that flies in late summer and has only 1 record for Great Britain, while Gymnocheta viridis is a spring species.



There are 18 species of Bibio (St Mark's Fly) of which four are in the 6-8mm range, three have all black legs (male) and the other has a certain amount of deep red/rusty brown tibia like the picture below. So this is Bibio lanigerus and has been confirmed on Irecord. There have been few records for Glamorgan but is probably overlooked as it is regarded as common in Great Britain.

 map of Bibio lanigerus Glamorgan records. Dark red are confirmed records, pink are unconfirmed records.

 male Melanostoma scalare - very common but first of the year for the valley.

Spring Flowers

The lanes around Pont Rhyd-y-Cyff were ablaze with spring flowers, with about 20 species in bloom including those below.

 Common Dog Violet (notice the white spur behind the flower head)

 Garlic Mustard

 Greater Stitchwort

 Green Alkanet

Lesser Periwinkle

Last couple of days

Today is supposedly the last warm day and temperatures are due to plummet, maybe even some snow on the mountains. The last few days I have been around most of the key sites in the valley, but not much new about. Hoverflies numbers are still low and I only recorded 10 species for March, it may not seem a lot but looking back over my records it appears to be a record for March. Lots of butterflies about in the sunshine especially Brimstone and Peacock. The 2 spring tachinid flies Tachina ursina and Gonia picea are present at most sights. Honey Bee numbers are off the scale for the time of year and good numbers of Buff-tailed Bumblebee are present everywhere. I've also recorded Ashy Mining Bee and Gwynne's Mining Bee. On the bird front Chiffchaffs are in in good numbers at all sites but no other summer species have arrived so far. One good bird record happened today when I saw a huge female Goshawk flying from Railway Terrace carrying a Chicken. Most spring blooms are now out including the first Cuckooflower today at Blaencaerau.

***   Late news  -   02 April 2019 Barn Swallow over Tudor Woods, Caerau.   ***

 Ashy Mining Bee

 Gwynne's Mining Bee

 Episyrphus balteatus

Cuckooflower