Whats in Cromwell May 2013

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? June 2012

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? July 2012

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? Aug 2012

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? Sept 2012

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? Oct 2012

Whats in Cromwell at the Moment ? May 2013

ALL RECORDS VALIDATED (C) 2000 - 2013

Hawthorn is not yet flowering in local abundance but is imminent and will greatly increase the number of Hoverflies and other invertebrates. Dipping has yielded Palmate Newtas and Frogs and Toads are spawning. Solitary Bees as opposed to Social Bees like Bumblebees live around the loose clay soil of the River Bank in little burrows which can often be mistaken for Mouse Holes with little piles of excavated soil granules. Many of the parasitic Wasps also are around at this time preying on the early bees. In Britain there are aprox 290 species of Andrena alone , 300 Species of Hoverfly or Flower Fly - these are often overlooked and like the Bees do very valuabel work by pollinating plants . You would be forgiven if you confused your Hoverfly (Two Wings - Diptera ) with your Wasps and Bees ( Four Wings Hymenoptera ) as that is exactly the evolutionary strategy they have adopted Batesian Mimicry. - Who would want to eat a Fly that might Sting you ??? Hoverflies like Shieldbugs are indicator species showing the Health of Biodiversity on the reserve Cutting Flower stands has an impact on many dependent species non the least the nectaring Butterflies . At the Moment we have the Orange Tip in Flight the males being easily distingusihed and these are dependent on plants such as Cuckoo Flower and Hedge Mustard ie The Early Flowering Brassicaceaes . First Generation Commas are also around these are usualy bigger than the second brood later toward Autumn . Small Tortoiseshells & Peacocks are also Flying. Birds which are insectivorous will now start to thrive and breed now that many insects are appearing all of which depends on our basic flowers and grasses and underlies the principle of managing our reserve from the grass roots up !!

Solitary Mining Bee Andrena

Buff Tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris Queen

Tachina ursina

Melanostoma scalare

Invertebrates Currently in Flight


Hoverfly Melanostoma scalare 01/05/13, 21/05/13
Hoverfly Eristalis tenax 01/05/13
Hoverfly Eristalis pertinax 01/05/13
Hoverfly Leucozona leucorum 21/05/13
Hoverfly Eristalis pertinax 21/05/13
Hoverfly Sphaerophoria 21/05/13
Hoverfly Helophilus pendulus 01/05/13, 31/05/13
Vollucella bombylans 31/05/13
Buff Tailed Bumblebee Bombus terrestris 01/05/13
Early Mining Bee Andrena haemorrhoa 09/05/13
Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris 21/05/13
Common Carder Bee Bombus pascorum 21/05/13
Tachnid - Tachina ursina
Dance Fly Empis trigramma

The Downlooker Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopacea 31/05/13

Owl Midge Psychodae21/05/13

Miridae Stenodem holostata 21/05/13

Cranefly Tipula vittata 21/05/13

Cranefly Tipula maxima 31/05/13

Small White Butterfly 09/05/13

Orange Tip Males 09/05/13, 31/05/13

Comma 01/05/13

Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 01/05/13, 31/05/13

Peacock 01/05/13, 31/05/13

Early Thorn (Charlie Street) 18/05/13

Nettle Tap Anthophila fabriciana 21/05/13,

Common Carpet Moth 21/05/13,

Long Horn Moth Adela reaumurella 21/05/13,

Cocks Foot Moth B & F 391 Glyphipterix simpliciella 31/05/13

Speckled Wood 21/05/13,

Spider Tetragnatha extensa 21/05/13,
Spider Metalina segmenta 21/05/13
Spider Araneus diadematus 21/05/13
Bridge Spider Larinoides sclopetarius, 21/05/13
Spider Pardosa 21/05/13
Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus 31/05/13
Eary Damsel Flies Sighted Small Red Occasional 31/05/13
Blue Lacewing Chrysops perla 31/05/13

Botany Currently in Bloom

White Deadnettle Lamium alba 09/05/13
Field For get Me Not 01/05/13
Common Vetchling 21/05/13,
Broom 21/05/13,
Flowering Current Ribes sanginum 01/05/13
Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata 01/05/13
Cow Parsley
Dandilion 01/05/13
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa 01/05/13
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris 01/05/13
Bluebell
Coltsfoot Along Pathways and well trampled areas
Bittercress Weedy plant on hardstanding and compacted areas
Butterbur Flowered in April along River Corridor and low flow ledges
Apple 21/05/13,
Bush Vetch Vicia sepium 21/05/13,
Wood For Get Me Not 21/05/13,
Garlic Mustard 21/05/13,
Southern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa).16/06/2013

Flowering Currant Ribes sanguinum 

Blackthorn

Birds On Feeders

European Robin Erithacus rubecula
Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
Magpie
Whitethroat
Chiff Chaff
Lesser Redpoll
Great Tit Parus major
Blue Tit
Mallards Notes On the Bird Station Area Basking in the Sun
Spotted fly catcher (lagoon)

Robin

Bullfinch

Chaffinch

Goldfinch

Birds On Water


Heron nr Weir
Cormormorant
Grey Wagtail
Mammals
Grey Squirrel

Mammals

Noctule  Nyctalus noctula 16/05/2013 Bat night
Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus 16/05/2013 Bat night