RSPB Sandy Insect Activity

As forecast, the sun came out and temperatures rose yesterday so there was plenty of activity around the banks to some of the paths at RSPB Sandy yesterday. This colony of Ivy bees were very active. I think they were mainly males but I did catch a female laden with pollen (wider abdominal stripes). Also recorded a Sphecodes bee (Blood Bee) - these are cleptoparasites (lay their eggs in another species' nest) - Ivy bees not recorded as hosts but there were presumably other mining bee species nesting in the bank  The small ponds on the walk were very active with lots of Ruddy Darters paired and laying eggs plus Migrant Hawkers and Southern Hawkers. The Gardens behind the house were quiet - just a handful of butterflies, a Firebug and a few Carder bees.

Preparing for Dragonfly Day at Paxton

Today is our Dragonfly day at Paxton Pits reserve with walks in the morning and afternoon - thankfully in cooler conditions according to the forecast. Yesterday we did short walks in the heat just to check on what is around. Certainly the Migrant Hawkers are the stars with their stationary hovering as well as frequent perching but there are Brown Hawkers, Common and Ruddy Darters and some Damselflies on the wing as well as some incomers this year such as the Lesser Emperor and Southern Migrant Hawker though with a reserve as large as Paxton, sightings cannot be guaranteed!! Plenty of other insects if the flying conditions are right such as the Beewolf Wasp.

Guided Walks – Dragonfly Day – Paxton Pits Nature Reserve

Drought Conditions at Paxton Pits

The temperature at Paxton Pits was bearable yesterday for a work session in the morning clearing round the Dragonfly Pond and the Bee banks. I made a circuit of the reserve in the afternoon hoping for some good macro subjects for the camera. Certainly my favourite Jade Hoppers were there hiding in the grass plus Robber Fly and a couple of  Hemiptera. Common Darters and Ruddy Darters are fairly abundant but otherwise very few insects found at all with so few flowers and foliage left. 

Hot Afternoon at Hardwick Wood

I was not alone in Hardwick Wood yesterday afternoon as the temperature rose - lots of Ruddy Darters were  hunting prey from sunlit perches while Silver-washed Fritillaries, Gatekeepers and two Hummingbird Hawkmoths were feeding on the abundant knapweed along the Port Way. This ancient track is a model habitat for butterflies and other insects with woodland shelter on one side, a close mown path and a wide unmown area and ditch on the other. (It has been pointed out that the butterfly I photographed on the the Port Way was a Dark Green Fritillary - (not the Silver-washed I was expecting as fairly abundant still inside the wood) - presumably a vagrant from a breeding colony - there are some good chalkhill habitats just south of us).

 

Dragonflies at Paxton Pits

A visit to Cobham Hide followed by a walk up the Haul Road at Paxton Pits produced a sizeable list of Dragonflies and Damsels etc. The star was definitely the Southern Migrant Hawker, a fairly newly listed species for the UK and my first sighting of one. Otherwise while Brown Hawker (egg laying), Emerald  Damsel, Common Blue Damsel, Ruddy Darter and Banded Demoiselle are still in prime condition, some other species are coming to the end of their brief lives like the Four-spot Chaser and Emperor Dragonfly