Thanks Michael and Graham, I thought I was being a 'Victor Mildrew' over name changes. It's not just me after all. Common Bullfinch indeed, saw one Sunday at Wrabness, the first in a year. How "common" is that? Incidently where do we have to go to find the Uncommon Bullfinch.
Taking advantage of the sunny weather we have made a couple of visits to the Wrabness Nature Reserve over the past week.
Butterflies were not very plentiful, Small Heath, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper and an unidentified 'White' all singletons were recorded. we did manage to find a pair of Cinnabar Moths though.
We were rewarded with views of a Slow Worm and three Common Lizards
Three invertebrates were spotted that took our attention the first being the caterpillar of the moth Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) which were found at several locations on the reserve on the sawn timber of fences etc.
Next was a weevil (Lioploeus tassulatus)
This insect was found feeding on 'Cow Mumble', and was by far the biggest weevil I have seen, estimated at 10+mm in length. It appeared quite active and nervy, so I took a long shot of it before trying to get in close. As a hand was extended towards it, it lept off its food plant and was lost in the dense grassy undergrowth. So the long shot proved a good idea, but didn't produce a good photo.
Thirdly, in the long grass on the edge of the river a Cardinal Beetle (Pyrchorea serraticornis) was noted and the following photo taken
Ladybirds listed were 7-Spots which were to be seen all over the reserve. A few 14-Spots and one 24-Spot
There were very few bees about despite the warmth and abundant Hawthorn blossom and numerous wild flowers. The most numerous being the Common Carder, even then there were only small numbers.
As for birds, while summer visitors, Whitethroats, Nightingale, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Cuckoo entertained us with songs of summer, winter stragglers, Brent Geese, still fed along the saltings.
Taking advantage of the sunny weather we have made a couple of visits to the Wrabness Nature Reserve over the past week.
Butterflies were not very plentiful, Small Heath, Clouded Yellow, Small Copper and an unidentified 'White' all singletons were recorded. we did manage to find a pair of Cinnabar Moths though.
We were rewarded with views of a Slow Worm and three Common Lizards
Three invertebrates were spotted that took our attention the first being the caterpillar of the moth Scarce Footman (Eilema complana) which were found at several locations on the reserve on the sawn timber of fences etc.
Next was a weevil (Lioploeus tassulatus)
This insect was found feeding on 'Cow Mumble', and was by far the biggest weevil I have seen, estimated at 10+mm in length. It appeared quite active and nervy, so I took a long shot of it before trying to get in close. As a hand was extended towards it, it lept off its food plant and was lost in the dense grassy undergrowth. So the long shot proved a good idea, but didn't produce a good photo.
Thirdly, in the long grass on the edge of the river a Cardinal Beetle (Pyrchorea serraticornis) was noted and the following photo taken
Ladybirds listed were 7-Spots which were to be seen all over the reserve. A few 14-Spots and one 24-Spot
There were very few bees about despite the warmth and abundant Hawthorn blossom and numerous wild flowers. The most numerous being the Common Carder, even then there were only small numbers.
As for birds, while summer visitors, Whitethroats, Nightingale, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, and Cuckoo entertained us with songs of summer, winter stragglers, Brent Geese, still fed along the saltings.