It was back to work at RSPB Rainham Marshes for the weekend which was the busiest
for some time with lots of families despite the very odd weather than could probably
be best described as squally with sunny spells.
There were plenty of insects to distract us to educate the public with and
I found Gypsy, Oak Eggar and Jersey Tiger Moths once again zooming around on both days and our first 2021 Red
Underwings were back under the building in their traditional August day roost
spots. They blend in so well with the concrete.
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| Red
Underwing |
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| Red
Underwing |
Four Hawker species were seen including the first male
Blue-eyed for a while and I counted 32 Wasp Spiders of various sizes in just
one stretch of car park. Some are now getting
quite big and the Orthoptera population was taking a few hits once again.
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| Wasp Spider |
I checked the Globe Thistles regularly and amongst the
Bumbles and Honeys I was pleased to find a Coelyoxis (Sharp-tailed) Bee visited
all too briefly while a Trichius gallicus Bee beetle was the first for over a
month and thankfully coincided with the arrival of several of the local insect
lovers who missed them the first time.
It was a bit of a bully and frequently pushed Bumbles out of the way
with no good reason what so ever. My
first site Eriothrix rufomaculata of the year and a couple of Greenbottles were
also in attendance.
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| Trichius gallicus |
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Greenbottle - Lucilia sp
|
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Eriothrix rufomaculata and Honey Bee
|
There was some quality Volucella hoverfly action with both
zonaria and inanis performing in the Wildlife Garden where the Mint Moths and
same Spider species were still to be seen although the Araneus diadematus are
growing very quickly now. I saw one wrap
up a small Parasitic Wasp that promptly got back out but not away. I thought it had actually released it but
after a brief pause she went back in and did the job properly at the second
attempt.
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| Volucella inanis |
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| Volucella inanis |
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| Volucella zonaria |
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| Araneus diadematus - Riccarelli Alessandro |
I opened up one morning on a quick bike circuit and saw two
each of Great White and Cattle Egret and 54 Black-tailed Godwits were on the
Target Pools. There were lots of Larinioides sclopetarius Orb Weavers in the MDZ leaving nothing to chance across the windows inside and out.
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Cattle Egrets - the juvs - Pete Merchant
|
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| Cattle Egret |
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| Larinioides sclopetarius |
Rather oddly my weekend highlight was a recently deceased
Mole that Ben R brought in from to trail show us. Like Shrews, they just seem to run out of
steam. The feet were amazing and
warranted a close look. They are proper
shovels with wicked claws although a good nail brush should have been on his
now not needed shopping list.
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| Mole |
On Monday morning I headed over to have a walk around George’s
Bulphan farm again. It was grey and cool and there was little wildlife to see this
time bar some Yellowhammers and so after walking a few hedges and ditches I
headed for home. I had planned to meet
up with Nicole late afternoon and so with a little time to spare I stopped at Queendown
Warren on my way down to Blean.
The wind was getting up but I found a few sheltered spots
and I was rewarded with a single of the hoped for Silver Spotted Skipper along
with some dazzling Chalkhill, Adonis and Common Blues.
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| Silver Spotted Skipper |
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| Chalkhill |
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| Adonis |
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| Adonis |
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| Adonis |
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| Common |
Brown Argus were numerous and there were still many Meadow
Browns on the wing although everything was keeping low. Rufous, Field and Meadow Grasshoppers were found
along with a few Hoverflies. A miniscule
Paragus sp was probably the most notable.
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| Brown Argus |
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| Brown Argus |
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| Brown Argus |
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| Brown Argus |
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Meadow Brown
|
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| Meadow Brown |
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Paragus sp - c5mm long
|
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| imm Field Grasshopper |
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| Rufous Grasshopper |
There were lots of other flies to study but the wind was
making them tricky to snap. Most seemed
to be Tachinids (which Phil C has confirmed) but as usual with these spiky
bummed flies, you need more than a couple of passable shots to give you a
chance of an id. At least Eriothrix rufomaculata is straightforward enough!
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| probably Exorista of the rustica group |
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| Eriothrix rufomaculata |
There were a few small Bees amongst the many Bumbles and one
has been suggested as Melitta tricincta.
A fantastically furry Bumblebee feels to me like it should be Bombus
muscorum but once again I have failed to get it confirmed. Strangely enough I can think of more
interesting things to do than lay around with a bee’s genital capsule...
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| Could this be Bombus
muscorum? |
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Melitta tricincta has been suggested
|
I did find one unequivocal new species for me with a very
smart Red Poplar Leaf Beetle in shades of Pillarbox and shiny green.
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| Red Poplar Leaf Beetle -Chrysomela populi |
Two Robberflies were seen which I think I have identified and I was pleased to find three tiny spires of Autumn Ladies Tresses already flowering.
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Machimus atricapillus
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Machimus atricapillus - I think they may both be the same
|
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Field Scabious
|
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Autumn Ladies Tresses
|
I met up with Nicole and had an amble around her local
farmland loop which included several spots where the farmers already have good
field margins and she hopes to convert them further to helping the local Turtle
Doves and other wildlife. Rain was threatening but there was still plenty to
see with a fair Hoverfly selection including the two bog Volucellas and Xylota
segnis.
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Volucella inanis
|
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Volucella zonaria
|
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Xylota segnis
|
The first mature Speckled Bush Crickets of the year joined
Roesel’s and Dark in song and we disturbed a Maple Pug and Brimstone moth from
cover as well as finding Apodia bifractella on Fleabane (thanks Antony).
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| Speckled Bush Cricket |
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| Speckled Bush Cricket |
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Maple Pug
|
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| Apodia bifractella |
Wasp and Labyrinth Spiders were found along with a Leiobunum
rotundum Harvestman. There was plenty of
other spider food around with Eriothrix rufomaculata once again and very large
Phaonia that Phil thinks may be P valida due to the large size.
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Wasp Spider
|
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| Leiobunum
rotundum |
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| Phaonia valida |
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Yellow Dung fly
|
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Eriothrix rufomaculta
|
We saw a couple of Migrant Hawkers and Common Blue Damsels
and a young Lizard was trying to find some warmth on a log. Butterflies were thin on the ground with just
a few Browns, Comma and Speckled Wood and the fruiting bodies of Lords and
Ladies were thrusting up through the leaf litter under the hedges.
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Tufted Vetch
|
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Common Lizard
|
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Speckled Wood
|
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Lords and Ladies
|
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| Common Blue Damselfly |
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| Betony |
Starlings were gathering in the fields and a scruffy male
Whitethroat was feasting on Blackberries as we turned for home and within a few
minutes of the kettle going on it started to rain.
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| Whitethroat |
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