The warm weather meant a lot of Bee-flies were seen today
These sneaky little critters are about the size of a thumb nail - they have a long slender proboscis (tongue) that some people think is their stinger
With their furry brown bodies and patterned wings they are very attractive bee mimics
When feeding they often hover next to nectar rich flowers and rest two legs on the flower head whilst feeding with their elongated tongue
Female Bee-flies hover above ground nesting bee holes (eg Mining Bees) and flick their eggs into the holes - When the Bee-fly egg hatches the larva attaches itself to the Mining Bee grub and literall sucks it dry
I also done my usual UKBMS transect this morning (butterfly count and record)
I spotted 12 butterflies of 5 different species along the transect route
Brimstone x 3
Orange Tip x1
Peacock x 5
Comma x 2
Speckled Wood x 1
Not bad for a March count although the numbers would have probably been higher had I walked the transect in the warmer afternoon
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| Speckled Wood |
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| Peacock |
Along the river I had both Kingfishers whizz past and my first Blackcap of the year
I also heard a very much missed bird call - the female Kestrel was calling to her partner and although I could see her perched on one of the dead trees - I couldnt see him until they both flew off
The last time I heard that call last year it was just after the pair had mated so hopefully we'll some juveniles in July
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| record shot of Kestrel |
Also seen was a lovely Nuthatch on the brick wall by the Information Centre - two Red Kites - one Common Buzzard
All over the park the air was full with calling birds but probably the most exciting for me was at least seven Green Woodpeckers calling from various sites - this proves to me that the Ring Necked Parakeets have NOT pushed this species of woodpecker out (some people say the parakeets take over all the available woodpecker nesting holes but I beg to differ and today certainly seemed to prove that)
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