MSQ Insects etc.,Thursday 10th August 2023.

 A decent forecast today,albeit a tad breezy,saw me visiting this superb little reserve,the following are my highlights from the visit.

It soon became apparent that there were quite a few Butterflies on the wing as i made my way around the reserve,with the highlight from a personal point of view being 2 2nd gen Holly Blue,with 23 Red Admiral and 15 Brimstone good counts.

Other species and numbers were as follows: 36 Peacock,3 Large White,3 Small White,4 Comma,2 Green-veined White,6 Speckled Wood,13 Meadow Brown,16 Gatekeeper and a Small Copper.

Some lovely views of Common Lizard were also enjoyed,with 4 individual males found,one which allowed a close approach for some nice close up photos.

Bird highlights as i walked included a Great-white Egret roosting on the island near the Wader hide and 2 Green Woodpecker.

As i approached an area of Hemp Agrimony,a largish,brightly coloured and marked Digger Wasp flew past me and began nectaring and it soon became apparent it was,unbelievably a BeeWolf,a species i had not seen in Lincolnshire and not seen since i visited Minsmere in 2020.

This was a total surprise and i managed to find a further 2 insects,my photos were not great unfortunately due to the insects being continually on the move,but you can see the abdominal markings clearly on the pics and the distinct reddish border to the rear of the head.

This species is still very rare in the UK,but is pushing north as are so many other species,it is so called as it is a parasitic species which lines it nest burrow with Honey Bees for its young to feed on.

I carried on looking around the reserve and then came across a lifer and a species i have wanted to see for some time,Corizus hyoscyami or Red & Black Rhopalid.

This species used to be only found on the south coast in the UK,but has been recorded now as far north as Yorkshire,the sighting being a lovely surprise and addition to my life list.

It belongs to the Rhopalidae family of Bugs,closely related to Leather Bugs and feed on Seeds and fruit.

So a pretty good visit considering and a lifer and 2 new species for my Lincolnshire insect list.

Male Brimstone.

Female Field Grasshopper.

BeeWolf,What A Cracking Insect!.

Common Lizard.

Red & Black Rhopalid,What A Beauty!.