May visit to Maple Lodge NR

Yesterday I went to Maple Lodge NR for a very overdue visit

 

The weather was fairly kind for the morning but by the afternoon it was very overcast

 

From the Teal Hide there was a pair of Canada Geese with four goslings

 

 

From the Clubhouse Hide there were two pairs of Stock Doves

 

and the resident Great Spotted Woodpecker

 

By the Shell Hide there was a flock of recently fledged Long-tailed Tits

 

and a very neat looking Gadwall

 

I enjoy this time of year when a lot of the critters are out and about

 

I found two species of hoverfly

 

Syrphus sp

Xanthogramma pedissequum

 and lots and lots of hoverfly larvae

 

 

There were Cardinal Beetles everywhere

 

 

and this tiny Froghopper

 

Red and Black Froghopper

 I think the beetle below is a type of Rove Beetle

Rove beetle ?

 

Soldier Beetle

As to be expected at this time of year there were plenty of ladybirds

 

7-spot Ladybird

Harlequin Ladybird

ladybird eggs

 There were plenty of other critters out and about

 

Dock Bug

 

Hairy Shield Bug

Damselfly season is now upon us - I had my first Large Red at Cranford CP last week and my first Common Blue at Maple Lodge NR yesterday

 

female Common Blue

But my favourite find yesterday (thanks to Chris) was this stunning female Banded Demoiselle

 

 

There were plenty of Scorpion Flies around too including this male with his bulbous tail

 

 

and several Nettle Tap micro moths

 

 

All in all a very enjoyable if overdue visit