A walk round Caerau on Sunday just before the rains came in got me 26 species. Highlights included 3 more new for the year in Platycheirus granditarsus, Melanogaster hirtella and Chalcosyrphus nemorum. Other species seen were Platycheirus tarsalis, Cheilosia fraterna and Merodon equestris. The most numerous hoverfly was Melanostoma scalare (35).
Fine weather continued through the week, so I had visits to both Blaencaerau (45 species) and Gilfach (west) (27 species). Hawthorn is now starting to fade after an early blossom. The Blaencaerau visit was a May record for number of species in a day. Another 10 new for the year species takes me to 70 for the year. Between both sites highlights included Platycheirus tarsalis, Chrysotoxum Cautum, Melangyna cincta (my 3rd record only), Sericomyia lappona, Erizona syrphoides and Microdon myrmicae/mutablis agg. Commonest hoverfly was Sphaerophoria sibirica (65).
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Conopid flies are usually difficult to identify especially Myopa, but I think I got this one just right.
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With the fine weather continuing I visited Lletty Brongu woods (27 species) and Spelter (28 species) this week. New for the year include 15 more species taking me past 50 for the year. Highlights included Criorhina berberina, Merodon equestris and Didea fasciata. Most common species being Melanostoma scalare (57).
With all the fine weather, some tree blossoms are flowering earlier than normal, like Hawthorn and Rowan, so there has been a big increase in hoverfly species for the time of year. New for the year are coming thick and fast. At Blaencaerau today there were 25 species recorded of which 10 were new for the year. Highlights included Platycheirus tarsalis, Chrysogaster virescens and Neoascia meticulosa. Most common hoverfly was Platycheirus albimanus (29). If the weather continues May will be a good month.
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Spelter, Maesteg [SS8593] is the square I've chosen to survey at least once a month this year in the hope of getting 100 species for the 1km square. It is currently on 64 species. First walk around it looked pretty desolate and flowerless at this time of year, but all it took was one late blooming Sallow tree to attract 17 species of hoverfly. New for the square were Platycheirus clypeatus, Platycheirus tarsalis, Cheilosia albitarsis and Neoascia podagrica taking it to 68 species. so not a bad start. May should be much more livelier. The first Rhingia campestris and Syrphus vitripennis of the year were seen and the most numerous species was Platycheirus albimanus (45).
On the other insect front were the first of the year in Tree Bumblebee and the moths Adela cuprella and Cydia ulicetana. Birds were pretty quiet with singles of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap of note.
First real walk around the site this year. Sunny weather and quite warm (16c) out of the cooler wind. I recorded 19 species of hoverfly which is pretty good for this time of year. New for the year were Chrysotoxum arcuatum, Platycheirus clypeatus, Sphaerophoria scripta, Cheilosia albitarsis, Cheilosia bergenstammi, Chelosia pagana, Neoascia podagrica, Pipizella viduata and Syritta pipiens. Commonest species was as expected - Platycheirus albimanus (75).
Lots of butterflies about today including Orange Tip (10), Red Admiral (1) and Small Copper (1). First 14-spot Ladybird and Green Tiger Beetles of the year. Amongst the bees was an Ashy mining-bee.
Cuckooflowers and Dandelion were in full bloom but Sallow has mostly gone over and none of the other tree species are yet to bloom.
On the bird front some summer visitors have returned including Willow Warbler (9), Chiffchaff (6), Whitethroat (1) and Cuckoo (1). The Llangynwyd rookery is up to 8 occupied nests.
Roger Morris of the Hoverfly recording scheme has been busy working on the update for the Widguides Series - Hoverflies of Great Britain and Ireland in which I have a few photos published. It is now complete and he has worked his way through my back log of specimens and completed the 2023 records a recap of which is below.
2023 records
Syrphus Nitidifrons - new for Wales and VC41 (149 for the valley), very few records for Great Britain
Good records
Cheilosia carbonaria - Only recorded in the valley in VC41 and Wales.
Eupeodes lapponicus - the valley is a stronghold for this rare species'
Pipiza noctiluca - takes the Caerau [SS8594] 1km square onto 100 species.
Platycheirus occultus - scarce.
Other records
Cheilosia fraterna (2) Cheilosia albitarsis (1) Cheilosia impressa (1)
Cheilosia proxima (10) Cheilosia scutelllata (3) Cheilosia vernalis (2)
Chrysogaster virescens (1) Neoascia meticulosa (2) Pipizella viduata (2)
Sphaerophoria interrupta (4)
The 2024 records will follow over the next week or two. Once again many thanks to Roger for taking time and patience for determining my specimens.
The Blackthorn at the park was in full bloom and dripping with hoverflies in the 19c sunshine although the stiff easterly wind made it feel a tad colder. 11 species were recorded with new for the year in Epistrophe eligans (3), Meliscaeva cinctella (3), Syrphus ribesii (1), Eristalis arbustorum (1) and Helophilus pendulus (2). Highest numbers were Syrphus sp. (50), Platycheirus albimanus (50) and Eristalis pertinax (50). Couldn't find any of the scarcer Platycheirus amongst the albimanus though.
There were also plenty of Large Bee-fly around and the Llangynwyd rookery is now up to 6 pairs and a Blackcap was singing it's head off in the park itself along with one Chiffchaff.
First time looking for hoverflies this year. The Sallow has yet to bloom in most places I visit. So I had to go round the Hazel catkins in search of hoverflies. I haven't had much luck with this in the past, but today I caught it just right in the 15c sunshine after a colder than average winter. I recorded nine species (March record) up Gilfach (west) [SS8487] with singles of Melangyna lasiophthalma and Parasyrphus punctulatus joined by Platycheirus albimanus (22), Platycheirus scutatus agg (1), Episyrphus balteatus (3), Meliscaeva auricollis (6), Syrphus torvus (9), Eristalis pertinax (15) and Eristalis tenax (1).
Other insects seen were singles of Buff-tailed Bumblebee, Early Mining-bee and Orange Dung Fly.
Bird news include a pair of Willow Tits coming to feeders at Blaencaerau farm, A Barn Owl at Caerau Church and on the Rook front 5 nests built at Llangynwyd and one maybe two at Caerau.
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After the first frost on Monday, I thought that would be the end of the hoverfly season. But the Ivy at the top of my street is only now starting to bloom (quite late), all the other Ivy in Caerau has gone over. I will be able to keep an eye on this whenever there is a bright spell until the end of November.
Today there were seven species present over 20 minutes at mid-day. With latest dates for Melanostoma scalare (4), Platycheirus albimanus, Meliscaeva auricollis, Eristalis tenax (5) and Sericomyia silentis. The other two species were Episyrphus balteatus (3) and Eristalis pertinax and the most numerous was Eristalis tenax (5).
A few other insects were also present in Honey Bee (60), Green Shieldbug (1) and a late Red Admiral (1).
About 30% of the Ivy in Caerau is about to or yet to open, so hoverfly recording could go on until mid November providing we don't have any frosts. I am still getting double figures in species while previous records for November is a meagre 4 species. A late Xanthandrus comtus was probably my last year tick this year (103). There are still some nice hoverflies about including migrants like Scaeva pyrastri.
Ivy watch season saw me visit Caerau (13 species) and Maesteg Welfare Park (12 species) this week. Highlights were surprisingly late Chrysotoxum arcuatum and Sphegina clunipes. Otherwise the commonest hoverfly was Episyrphus balteatus (32). Nothing much else to report except Ivy Bees are hanging on at Caerau.
Hoverfly numbers are now dropping dramatically with most of the flowers dying off. So this time of the year means its time to tour the Ivy patches for the next few weeks. Saturday was fine so visited Maesteg cemetery and also a quick look around the patches of Caerau. I recorded 13 species (the record is 17 species for October). Highlights included Eupeodes latifasciatus, Scaeva pyrastri and Sericomyia silentis. Most numerous was Eristalis tenax (14).
Of the other insects, a few butterflies were still on the wing in Comma and Red Admiral, I also had a Parent Bug (Shieldbug) which I haven't seen for a while
