This is now officially the peak period for spring migration at Beddington (mid April to early May). I was in the kebab shop when 2 Common Cranes flew over but I did have a female Marsh Harrier (pic 1), 2 Common Buzzard, 1 LRP, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 20+ Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat (first of the year), 15+ Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler and 11 Wheatear (pic 3). Only 1-2 Green Sandpipers left now (pic 2), 25+ Teal, 3 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall and there were 1-2 Little Owl along the path. Good to see 2 Skylarks prospecting on the mound.
Also did some more natural history stuff with Steve and Derek- plenty of plant ticks and some insects including this parasitic bee with some long scientific name or other (pic 4).
6 comments:
All hotting up Mr Alfrey. That's what I call professional, bins and camera to hand even in the Kebab Shop!
don't talk to me about hotting up- you on fire Mr Jaffa!!
What were you doing in the kebab house at midday? This isn't part of our fitness regime!!
sorry rach, I've just had a bowl of museli instead of a Sunday roast to compensate.
Derek Coleman kindly identified the bees- in a colony near the main entrance gate
The yellow and black one is Nomada fucata, which is a cleptoparasite of Andrena flavipes.
The small black bee is Lasioglossum malachurum which is parasitised by Sphecodes monilicornis.
So both these other species were probably present.
Post a Comment