Garden Insects And Birds.....28.04.20.

With us all spending much longer in our gardens due to the lockdown restrictions,Tracey and myself have been doing some work and spending lots of time watching the birds and insects coming and going.Of particular interest has been a small colony of Chocolate-mining Bees which has in turn attracted some interesting parasitic species which prey on these solitary Bees.
 The first two species are from the family of Nomada Or Nomad Bees,which the females of each species enter into the nest chamber of the host and lay a single egg in an unsealed egg chamber,the larvae in turn hatches and eats the egg or larvae of the host species.The two species we have recorded so far are Marsham's Nomad Bee and Flavous Nomad Bee,both new species for the garden list.
 Another totally un-related species to the Nomad Bees,but again a parasitic species and endoparasite we have seen,is a species of Conopid Fly Myopa testacea.These flies are suspected to lay eggs on their hosts in flight,but also spend much time nectaring on wild flowers.This species is also another addition to the garden list.
 Other species of insects observed recently have included Orange Tip,Green-veined White,Peacock,Small Tortoiseshell and Holly Blue Butterflies.
 Bird wise we had a real surprise on the evening of the 25th,while looking for the Starlink Satellites we heard both a Moorhen and a Little Grebe calling as they flew over in the dark,the latter a really good record.
 Next day,an immature Peregrine drifted over towards Melton Ross,giving some nice views.

Flavous Nomad Bee.

Marsham's Nomad Bee.

Male Chocolate-mining Bee.

Myopa testacea.

Myopa testacea.