Lletty Brongu woods

 The mist started to burn off around 1000hrs and insect activity increased rapidly. The Ground Elder was in bloom in the lanes in patches and the Hemlock Water Droplet has just started to open (20%), looks like a good crop this year.  I recorded 30 species in 3 hours, new for the year were Platycheirus ambiguus (1), Platycheirus granditarsus (9), Cheilosia variabilis (8), Cheilosia lasiopa (1), Chrysogaster solstitialis (40), Orthonevra nobilis (10), Eristalis tenax (6) and Volucella pellucens (1). Most numerous hoverfly was Syritta pipiens (50). Other good records included Eumerus funeralis (1), Pipiza austriaca (1) and Criorhina berberina (3).

Red Admiral butterfly was seen as well as Speckled wood. The usual bees were recorded and the first Broad centurian soldier fly of the the year. Speckled Longhorn was abundant as was the tortrix Cocksfoot Moth, with Anthophila fabriciana in their hundreds. There were no birds of note today.

Criorhina berberina - buff form "oxyacanthae"

Eristalis tenax - surprisingly my first of the year

Myathropa florea

Platycheirus granditarsus

Garnwen

 Only one car here today, which just goes to show people would rather drink or shop than walk the hills. I remember the first day of lockdown, I couldn't find a parking space, even across the road (30 cars). Anyway my favourite Hawthorn tree was in full blossom and I recorded 32 species of hoverfly here in about an hour. New for the year were Chrysotoxum cautum (1), Didea fasciata (1), Megasyrphus erratica (1), Dasysyrphus pinastri (1), Eriozona syrphoides (1), Eupeodes corollae (3), Scaeva pyrastri (1), Chrysogaster virescens (2), Melanogaster hirtella (5), Eristalis horticola (2), Pipizella viduata (1) and Criorhina berberina (1). Most numerous was Platycheirus albimanus (25). Good records included Platycheirus tarsalis (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (10), Eupeodes lapponicus (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (1), Sericomyia silentis (6), and Xylota jakutorum (1). So overall a good day.

The longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum is now out in good numbers and was joined by Pachytodes cerambyciformis (Speckled Longhorn). The micro moth Micropterix aureatella was feeding on Hawthorn (3) and had the first Burnet Companion of the year. Also had Large Red Damselfly and a cotoneaster bush had virtually every Bee species I can identify. Only birds of note were Cuckoo and Whitethroat.

Hawthorn bush in glade

Eriozona syrphoides - female

Chrysotoxum cautum

Micropterix aureatella

Pachytodes cerambyciformis

Blaencaerau cop

 What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I had 5 species, today with a bit of fine weather I had 32 species of hoverfly. New for the year were Platycheirus clypeatus (1), Platycheirus rosarum (1), Cheilosia fraterna (1), Cheilosia illustrata (1), Cheilosia proxima (3), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Neoascia tenur (1), Sphegina elegans (1), Sphegina sibirica (3), Myathropa florea (1), Eumerus funeralis (3), Pipiza austriaca (2), Pipiza noctiluca (1) and Microdon myrmicae (1), which takes me past 50 species for the year. Most abundant species was Platycheirus albimanus (20). Other notable records included Melanostoma mellinum (3), Platycheirus tarsalis (1), Parasyrphus punctulatus (1), Chalcosyrphus nemorum (2) and Xylota jakutorum (4).

Plenty of other insects on the wing including the first Dingy Skipper of the year, moths Incurvaria masculella and Ancylis badiana. Longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum, Green-Orb Spider and Ashy Mining Bee.

Birds were represented by Cuckoo (1), Whitethroat (6), House Martin (3 pairs) and at last Swift (1 pair)

Green-Orb Spider

Ashy Mining Bee

Rhagium bifasciatum

Dingy Skipper

Xylota jakutorum

Microdon myrmicae

Gilfach (west), Top Llangynwyd

 You can tell the pubs have re-opened as I had the whole place to myself for the first time in a year. The weather was rather overcast, so I only recorded 10 species of hoverfly. Sericomyia silentis (1) and Cheilosia albitarsis (2) were new for the year. The most numerous was Melanostoma scalare (65) which seem to be having a good spring. Leucozona lucorum (1) was the only other species of note.

Other insects included an emerging male Common Blue butterfly, Small White and the moths Micropterix calthella, Adela reaumurella and Silver Ground Carpet. Birds - summer visitors included Redstart (1), Whitethroat (2), Willow Warbler (3) and Chiffchaff (1). A lot of tree felling in the area means it could be a good year for Nightjar. Later on at a quick stop at the sewage works were House Martin (40), Sand Martin (3) and Barn Swallow (15). I still haven't seen Common Swift in the valley yet, must be the latest date ever.

Sericomyia silentis

Leucozona lucorum

Adela reaumurella

Common Blue emerging

Lletty Brongu woods

 Temperatures peaked at only 13c today. When I entered the woods the wind was easterly, when I left 2 hours later it had become south-westerly and strengthening. Nevertheless the sun traps within the woods held good numbers of hoverflies. I recorded 25 species, new for the year were Baccha elongata (1), Platycheirus tarsalis (1), Dasysyrphus albostriatus (1), Eupeodes luniger (1), Leucozona lucorum (2), Sphaerophoria scripta (1) and Xylota segnis (5). Most numerous were Neoascia species (200) [probably all podagrica, 10 checked to confirm], Melanostoma scalare (85), Platycheirus albimanus (65), Eristalis pertinax (58) and Rhingia campestris (22). Good records included Epistrophe eligans (2) and Chalcosyrphus nemorum (2).

Both birds and other insects were the run of the mill species, but I did have my first Green-veined White butterfly of the year.

Leucozona lucorum

Syrphus ribesii

Xylota segnis

Comma

2020 hoverfly specimen results

 Just had my specimen results back from Roger Morris of the Hoverfly Recording Scheme for 2020 and the results are good.

New for valley

Cheilosia psilophthalma [143] - 19 April 2020, Blaencaerau - 2 female - *** new for Glamorgan ***, 2nd & 3rd for Wales (Harlech 1997) and 18th and 19th for Great Britain. 

A very rare species of unimproved grassland, the larva feed on Mouse-ear Hawkweed and the adult feeds on blossoms nearby, in this case Sallow.

Important records

Psilota anthracina - 24 May 2020, Lletty Brongu woods - female - following on from 2019's discovery at Gilfach, Top Llangynwyd (3 records) which were new for Wales another was found in the mature woodland at the sewage works. The Llynfi valley records are still the only records for Wales.

Good records

Melangyna cincta (1), Chrysogaster virescens (1), Neoascia meticulosa (1), Platycheirus tarsalis (1), Cheilosia lasiopa (2), Brachyopa scutellaris (1), Melangyna lasiophthalma (3), Platycheirus angustatus (2), Platycheirus occultus (2), Dasysyrphus venustus (1), Parasyrphus lineola (1), Melangyna compositarum/labiatarum agg. (1) (these species are now considered to be the same).

Common records

Cheilosia proxima (13), Cheilosia albitarsis (8), Cheilosia vernalis (1), Cheilosia fraterna (2), Cheilosia variabilis (3), Paragus haemorrhous (1), Platycheirus scutatus (1), Cheilosia scutellata (5), Melanogaster hirtella (1), Cheilosia pagana (2), Sphegina elegans (1), Pipizella viduata (1), Syrphus vitripennis (2)

Last weekend

 Some warm weather during the middle of the day meant I could go for walks after work, I visited Lletty Brongu woods and Gilfach (top Llan). Hoverflies are starting to emerge in species numbers with 29 species seen over the 2 trips. and new for the year were Dasysyrphus venustus, Cheilosia chrysocoma, Epistrophe eligans, Meliscaeva cinctella, Rhingia campestris, Neoascia podagrica, Eristalis arbustorum, Chalcosyrphus nemorum, Syritta pipiens, Syrphus vitripennis, Sphegina clunipes and Xylota jakutorum Commonest species were Platycheirus albimanus (170), Eristalis pertinax (110) and Melanostoma scalare (35).

Cheilosia chrysocoma

Epistrophe eligans

Rhingia campestris

Meliscaeva cinctella

This Blackthorn hedge at Top Llangynwyd was buzzing with hoverflies.

Blaencaerau

Last fine day before the on-coming cold snap tomorrow. Blaencaerau is always about two weeks behind the lower end of the valley in spring temperature wise, so I only had 6 species of hoverfly today and in much reduced numbers. The only bonus was my first of the year in Cheilosia albipila.

Other insects were hard to come by with nothing new. On the bird front summer migrants included 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Willow Warbler, of the resident birds there were 2 male Lesser Redpoll displaying and very vocal.

Cheilosia albipila

Gilfach (west) - Top Llangynwyd

 Another bright fine day with temperatures the same as yesterday, with plenty of spring hoverflies feeding on Sallow blossom.

This Sallow blossom in the car park at the top of Gilfach mountain produced 10 species of hoverfly and 70% of all the hoverflies seen today. Why they should opt for this blossom and not any other of the Sallows in blossom, including one 5 yards away is any-ones guess, but the totals were quite staggering and listed below.

3  Platycheirus albimanus
4  Episyrphus balteatus
3  Eupeodes lapponicus - rare

6  Melangyna lasiophthalma - scarce
2  Meliscaeva auricollis
35 Parasyrphus punctulatus - scarce
4  Syrphus torvus
1  Syrphus ribesii
60 Eristalis pertinax
2  Criorhina ranunculi - scarce - male & female

Other species of insect also visited the blossom including Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies. Adela cuprella (10) micro moth were dancing above the highest blossoms, 8 Dark-edged Bee-fly and Buff-tailed Bumblebee. The tree was also visited by the bird species Chiffchaff and Siskin.

Criorhina ranunculi

Eupeodes lapponicus

Episyrphus balteatus

Melangyna lasiophthalma

Parasyrphus punctulatus

Holly Blue

The rest of the trees (about 20 in blossom) in the area only produced Platycheirus albimanus (4), Episyrphus balteatus (3), Parasyrphus punctulatus (10), Syrphus torvus (1), Eristalis pertinax (30) and a male Criorhina ranunculi.

Another Chiffchaff was heard as was the first of the year for me Willow Warbler. 

Sewage works and river woods

 After the two day mini heatwave, temperatures returned to 14c and a bright sunny day saw the first spring emergence of multiple hoverfly species. All the spring flowers were in bloom such as Lesser Celandine, Wood Anemone, Marsh Marigold, Early Dog Violet, Ground Ivy, Primrose and Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage as well as Sallow Blossom. This meant there was plenty of pollen for hoverflies to feed on. Large numbers of Platycheirus albimanus (85) and Eristalis pertinax (60) were present plus smaller numbers of Melanostoma scalare (5), Platycheirus scutatus (1), Episyrphus balteatus (1), Syrphus torvus (1) and Cheilosia pagana (2).

Other insects included four species of butterfly in Comma, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood. Bees included Gwynne's Mining Bee, Clark's Mining Bee, Honey Bee, Buff-tailed Bumblebee and Common Carder Bee. Finally there were 10 Dark-edged Bee-fly feeding on Lesser Celandine dotted around the wood.

Amongst the birds summer visitors are starting to arrive in Chiffchaff (3) and Blackcap (1) all males singing. Of the resident species Nuthatch, Green Woodpecker and Goldcrest were the most vocal. 

Eristalis pertinax

Cheilosia pagana

Platycheirus albimanus

Comma

Dark-edged Bee-fly

Ground Ivy

Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage

Primrose

Wood Anemone and Lesser Celandine

Lletty Brongu sewage works

 Today's walk was to suss out the state of play for the forthcoming hoverfly season. Hazel catkins were producing pollen but sallow blossom is weeks away. A few Lesser Celandine were blooming near the river but nothing was feeding on anything except for gnats and midges. I did stumble onto my first hoverfly of the year basking on Bramble leaves, a male Eristalis pertinax. No other insect families were on the wing or ground dwelling.  

Plenty of birds were singing, with a pair of Grey Wagtail and Dipper holding territory along the river, where I also flushed 2 male Mallard and a female Sparrowhawk flew overhead. Treecreeper, Wood Nuthatch and Goldcrest were amongst the tit flocks. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was also heard drumming.

Hazel catkins starting to produce pollen

Lesser Celandine only a few lone flowers in bloom

male Eristalis pertinax - first of the year

Adelphocornis quadripunctatus

 

I've been waiting for confirmation of this species since the 26th August (at the C.O.P.) on Irecord and it was finally confirmed recently. Adelphocornis quadripunctatus is a common species in Europe particularly the Scandinavian region, but was only discovered in Great Britain in 2015 in Glamorgan and since then there have been about 20 records all in Glamorgan well spread out. Why it has been recorded in only Glamorgan by multiple observers and nowhere else in Great Britain remains a mystery. It is said to be associated with nettle (background of photo) and feeds on flowers nearby (foreground of photo). Sid has also recorded this species at the lower end of the valley, so is a welcome addition to the valleys species list.

Hoverfly season is now over until mid March and the nights are getting longer, so for the next 4 months it's "data analysis" season.

Ivy watch

 With all the flowers now gone over, it just leaves the Ivy to visit for the dwindling number of hoverflies with the season coming to an end rapidly over the next two weeks until March 2021. The three sites I have been visiting have been Maesteg Welfare Park, Maesteg Cemetery and the Ivy laden trees of Llangynwyd viaduct. Highlights include Sericomyia silentis (4), Melanostoma mellinum (2) and Eupeodes corollae (1). Out of the 15 species seen Episyrphus balteatus (71) was the most numerous. From here on only warm days (15c+) will produce any insects and the Ivy will be gone by the end of the month.

Specimens have been restricted this year to one box (75) and I'll be lucky if I get any new ones to add to the total, fingers crossed.

Sericomyia silentis

Hawthorn shieldbug

Melanostoma scalare