Day 86: Common Darter

Finally found a place where these hang out.  One of the latest flying dragonflies.  Several pairs flying around and ovipositing.  Trying to avoid becoming lunch for a mallard and moorhen.

#100DaysofNature Day 86: Common Darters - tandem flight for ovipositing @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/i0O78AwcJE
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) October 17, 2014

Synchronicity

Ovipositing

Day 77: Fox moth - caterpillar

This one from yesterday - but as I'd struggled so far on crutches to get it - I figured I deserved a freebie.. Actually saw two of these crawling across the path.  I presume (but haven't checked) that these will pupate over winter to emerge in the spring.

#100DaysofNature Day 77 The Very Hairy caterpillar (fox moth) 🐛 @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/zCWPFOru3h
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) October 8, 2014

Day 74: Tawny Pinion

Highnam is an awesome RSPB reserve, has Nightingales in the summer - which I've seen and heard several times.  All three species of Woodpacker, Marsh tits, Hawfinches a great site.  I went to try an photograph birds but didn't see a single bird!!   This moth was asleep in the hide.

#100DaysofNature Day 74 A Tawny Pinion at Highnam @Natures_Voice @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/sfOVfkZrdF
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) October 5, 2014

Day 73 Ladybird (Harlequin)

At a birthday party just North of Gloucester - Just one of these adults, an invasive species that's killing off the native species.

#100DaysofNature Day 73 Ladybird likin' the lichen @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/GWq2vwWzsv
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) October 4, 2014

Harlequin Ladybird

Harlequin

Day 65: Cluster Fly

These insects frustratingly difficult to id with any real confidence - this is the one I'm sure we called horseflies as kids and we scared of them biting.. So I don't really know.

They're very common and widespread Pollenia genus. So I hope this is close.

#100DaysofNature Day 65: Cluster Fly - At least I hope that's what it is! @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/WKnBtEfwQI
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 26, 2014

Day 64: Crane Fly

A lunchtime drive to get this one... Don't know what the congregational noun for Crane Fly is - but there were 10's of them skipping low across the long grass as I hobbled past.

Perhaps a squadron?

#100DaysofNature Day 64 Crane Fly. No better indicator of Autumn? @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/Cu3LtUQpNy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 25, 2014

Day 63: Caddisfly - Stenophylax permistus

A caddisfly in the moth trap - well a bit of a surprise - but what is worse is the fact I thought it was a moth for ages and couldn't key it out :(

OK not too bad until you consider that I used to key out the larvae  professionally and did my degree dissertation on them... Hangs head in total shame.  I don't recall seeing the adults like this one for ages and it did look like it had scaly wings (my closeup eyesight isn't what it used to be) but no excuse really.


There were actually at least seven in the trap and I'm not sure where they came form though and where the water habitat they would need is?

#100DaysofNature Day 63 Caddisfly - Stenophylax permistus. in a moth trap?  @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO  pic.twitter.com/rTeFxCU8B5
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 24, 2014

Day 62 weevil

Not sure I can key this one out...  Too tricky and I dropped him shortly after the photograph...

#100DaysofNature Day 62 weevil 🐜 @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/e6e1L9XzVz
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 23, 2014

Day 56: Marbled Carpet

Nice to see in the house and I couldn't find my field guide and resigned to trwling through images on internet - and drew a blank.

#100DaysofNature Day 56: Nature in the house. Now I just need an ID? Anyone? @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/oM3lEglqn8 pic.twitter.com/Kb1N8kAYuW
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 17, 2014

I got a nice response from the county recorder:

Your moth is marbled carpet - either Common Marbled Carpet or Dark Marbled Carpet.  Both are highly variable and you need to look at the subtle patterns on the underside of the wings in order to differentiate.

. @BritishMoths could someone help me with an id please. Same moth with/without flash. Found in my house today. Thks pic.twitter.com/9QycjKZ0lt
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 17, 2014

Day 54: House Fly on Common Bindweed

Still finding my feet in the garden - literally and figuratively.   Obviously fewer photo opportunities. We'll keep going though.

No way for me to id this fly to it's species but this is close enough.

#100DaysofNature Day 54 House Fly on Common Bindweed @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/VJ8hDfgD5Y
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 15, 2014

Slightly enhanced picture (sharpened and enhanced definition)

Day 52: Rhingia rostrata

 This hoverfly bright orange.  I fairly sure it's this species ticks all the diagnostic features I could find on:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/63075200@N07/sets/72157629849058963/

and


http://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/rhingia-rostrata-0

#100DaysofNature Day 52 Bottoms Up!! Rhingia rostrata, hoverfly on a close inspection @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/BPZCfiENv6
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 13, 2014

Other pictures give better diagnostic features:

Day 49: Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus)

This tweet and photograph is actually from yesterday.  I don't feel too bad about it as the lower half of my left leg is in plaster from my Ankle Op yesterday.   I took a couple of "spare photographs" to tide me over. Should be able to get out to the garden later...

This dock bug is a squashbug :)

http://www.britishbugs.org.uk/heteroptera/Coreidae/coreus_marginatus.html

#100DaysofNature Day 49 Dock Bug (Coreus marginatus) @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/D2NoF5hcXx
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 10, 2014

There were lots of them around and they seem quite social there are three on the blackberry below - they were much closer together until I pointed the camera at them :)

Dock Bugs on Blackberry

 

Day 48: Corizus hyoscyami

Here's a new one for me - not seen this before, small but striking colours.

#100DaysofNature Day 48 Corizus hyoscyami (who knew!) @BBCSpringwatch pic.twitter.com/HfHkWdH9kp
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 9, 2014

Day 46 Tortoiseshell

More sunshine and an opportunity to add another butterfly  to the role of honour.

#100DaysofNature Day 46 Tortoiseshell. Glorious sunny day ;) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/pfGwrI1UpE
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 7, 2014

Here's An SLR picture from Friday:

Tortoiseshell

Day 45: Painted Lady

The sun came out today and all the butterflies back on the wing lots of Red Admirals and tortoiseshells and among them on the Buddleia was this lovely Painted Lady.  Fist and only one I've seen this year.

#100DaysofNature Day 45 Painted Lady. sun's out summers not over yet ;) @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/8OwlW9V6yd
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) September 6, 2014

Here's an SLR picture:

Painted Lady (foreground) - Soft focus Red Admiral (background)

Day 38: Large White

More butterflies as the sun shines again.   All the usual suspects - Blues/ Brown Argus/ Small Whites

#100DaysofNature Day Large White @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/MoaHrkL8F3
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 30, 2014

I also had a morning at Frampton-on-Severn and just North of Splatt Bridge joined a small band of hardened twitchers to see a Marsh Sandpiper.  A pretty rare vagrant and not recorded in Gloucestershire before.   Nice to see also there six greenshank and 14 ruff.  100+ Swallows

http://www.birder.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Recent%2014-3.htm

Day 37: Red Admiral

In between the current showery - much more autumnal weather a little sunny reprieve and lots of butterflies on the wing. Almost all common blue but amongst them this Red Admiral.  They've been on the wing for a while  in addition to  todays picture I also photographed them on 4th August  (Over thee weeks ago).

Red Admiral (This one from 4th August)

#100DaysofNature Day 37: Red Admiral on buddleia @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/RdhADrm0yy
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 29, 2014

Day 35: Common Carder Bumblebee on Scabious

I seem to struggle with identifying bees...   I hope this ones right.

#100DaysofNature Day 35 Common Carder Bumblebee on Scabious @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/AJID3QwmfT

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 27, 2014

Day 32: Red-tailed Bumblebee on lavender

It feels like the summer is over... It's not been the best weather, shame after such a glorious start.  It also looks like we're due for proper heavy rain tomorrow.

I'm not totally convinced this is a Red-tailed Bumblebee (my one seems to have a white patch on top of its head) but it's the best match I could find. 

 

#100DaysofNature Day 32 Red-tailed Bumblebee on lavender @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO pic.twitter.com/L4XnpSC1dV

— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 24, 2014

Day 31: Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing

The previous evening I went on moth evening organised by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Stroud Valleys Project.  So suitably inspired set the moth trap up in the garden.  Lots of moths - the vast majority of which were Large Yellow Underwings.  This Underwing is a different species and was one of my favourites. 

#100DaysofNature Day 31 Broad-Bordered Yellow Underwing @BBCSpringwatch http://t.co/871SXgC2iO self identification!! pic.twitter.com/6xIw8V53yn
— Simon Ashley (@MilouTheBrave) August 23, 2014

I've still got a couple to identify and some Micro moths - but this is what I've figured out so far:

1. Large yellow underwing 40
2. Square spot rustic 5
3. Orange swift 
4. Broad bordered Yellow Underwing
5. Dusky thorn 2
6. Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing
7. Copper underwing

Square spot rustic

Large yellow underwings

Copper underwing