A visit to this gem of a reserve for a few hours after work, saw a very productive visit being enjoyed, with a proper rarity being found by myself for Lincolnshire.
As on previous visits at this time of year, plenty of insects were on the wing and included several families being involved, but the one BIG find was a Hoverfly.
While walking along the path between the Duck and Wader hides, i just happened to check a sunlit tree trunk and found a Brachyopa species resting. I took several photos trying to get as close as possible to the insect without flushing it, as i know you need to try and photograph the antennal pits on this family among other identification criteria.
After looking at my photos on the back of the camera, i realised due to the two toned scutellum that this maybe Brachyopa bicolour, a species which has not been seen in Lincolnshire before according to the NBN Atlas.
I posted photos of this insect on the Hoverflies page on Facebook and had it confirmed as Brachyopa bicolour by Roger Morris, the author of Hoverflies Of Britain & Ireland.
To say i was chuffed was an understatement and looking at all those trees in years gone by has paid off.
A few other nice sightings included a female Neoasia species, which was either Meticulosa or Tenur, Eristalinus sepulchralis, Dock Bug, Slender Groundhoppers and Gorse Shieldbugs.
Bird wise, 2 first records for the year were seen in the form of a lovely Garden Warbler and a Hobby hawking insects overhead.
What a cracking reserve this is, despite the poor management of the site.
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| Female Neoasia Species. |
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| Gorse Shieldbug |
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| Slender Groundhopper |
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| Female Eristalinus sepulchralis |
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| Green-veined White. |
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| Dock Bug |
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| Greater Stichwort |
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| Birch Shieldbug |
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| The Star Of The Show, Brachyopa bicolor |
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