Sunday 20 July 2008

This morning I steped out the front door, and the first bird on my list was a SPARROWHAWK, shortly followed by a HERRING GULL, hmmm....... maybe something is happening out there today?
Just before entering the golfcourse, there are one or two large gardens, and grass fields, one of the gardens has a large Yew tree on it's boundary, and in here were a family of GOLDCREST and a family of TREECREEPER, all making much the same high pitched noise, they were then joined by a NUTHATCH and 6 BLUETITS, a nice start to my list. The hedgerow that I follow through the golf course had a BLACKCAP singing from it, as well as a family party of BULLFINCH. A LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL went over, and at least 10 SWIFTS wheeled around, before moving off SW. Along Cuckoo lane a Family of WHITETHROAT was in the hedge, and on into the scrub and lake area, I found, amongst others, GREY HERON, MALLARD, CHIFFCHAFF, but no Turtle Doves today. Nothing moved in the wet woods, apart from MOORHENS and Mosquitoes.
A flock of 8 LINNETS flew from the tree nursery, they are still nesting here, despite the relentless strimming from the Coblands lot. The small pool I pass on the way out had a new family of Moorhens on it, the third lot! I walked along the field margin and hedgerow, that leads onto migrant alley, and kicked up dozens of Gatekeeper, and meadow brown butterfies. Migrant alley was not obliging with any migrants, but a mixed flock of Herring and BLACKHEADED GULLS went over westwards. In the college grounds not much was going on, although 3 SAND MARTINS that flew over going south, was a nice patch sighting. Half an hour back at migrant alley, on '' my seat'' didn't produce anything different flying over, and I sat and watched a YELLOWHAMMER going back and forth with food for it's nestlings, they should fledge anyday now.


An insect that I can't ID is shown obove and below. Any Ideas anyone ? It was about 12mm long


On the Buddlea today was a tatty Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly


On the telephone line, a SWALLOW was sitting enjoying the early warmth of the sun.



I found my first caterpillars of the Cinnabar moth, on their favoured Ragwort, (a plant that had somehow escaped the strimmers!)




7 comments:

Mosura said...

I'd say your insect is a Scorpion fly - possibly Panorpa communis

Greenie said...

Warren ,
I'm going for Scorpion Fly as well but - Panorpa cognata , and a female , as she has an ovipositor and the male has upturned scorpion type tail .

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Warren: That is a great shot of that unusual bug. Those caterpillars do look destructive.

Warren Baker said...

well Mosura and greenie,
I put in a search for both of your suggested species, and I found some images of them both. but i'll be blowed if I can decide!!

Greenie said...

Warren ,
If its any help , I'll settle for
Panorpa sp.

Mosura said...

You'll find some some good information here, on separating them, I think Greenie may be correct,

Stewart said...

Waren far better just call it 'Scorpion Fly sp' experts disect their genitalia to id them! Savage amusement eh, I'll stick to digiscoping....