A bright cloudless day with temps in the low 60’s. Lots of bees and hoverflies by the upper pond. Birds today:Pied Wagtail Starling Crow, a pair up to mischief on the roof. House sparrow (3), Herring Gull. Dunnock, Rook, Starling,
Several species of Hoverflies were interesting. I have identified them as Didea Fasciata, The Broad Hoverfly (below) although I have to say that mine seems somewhat more tawny than those illustrated elsewhere. The other one may be a Tawny Bumblebee Hoverfly Criorhina berberina but I have my doubts (left) this species fooled me for quite a while, it is such a good mimic that I really did think it a bee until I compared images of it. I have now confirmed this species (on Tuesday 23) to b a Drone Fly Eristalis tenax. Descibed to be such a good bee mimic that photos are often published of this insect descibing it as a bee! The give away of course is the head which is very fly like with the absense of antenae! I have to say that I am very pleased to have made such a discovery and so early into my quest to describe all the wildlife in my suburban garden.
Click on these images on the left here and you will see large pictures, note the pollen on the body of the Drone Fly, no secret as to what it is feeding on and also just how valuable all hoverflies are as pollenators