A Bit of a Bug Day

As it had been awhile since I'd checked up the Great Crested Grebes at Liden Lagoon, I thought I'd pay them a visit. What I hadn't realised though, was just how breezy it was, with squally gusts, zipping across the water. It was nice when the sun came out, but very chilly otherwise.

A did my clockwise walk around the water and the first stop was behind the bungalows. This area is normally out of the wind, but not today and apart from a Green-veined White, everything else was sticking to the plants quite literally. There were many hoverflies, flies and bugs all resting on the leaves and on a stick in the middle of the nettles was a Drinker moth caterpillar, which remained motionless in the sun.

Drinker Moth caterpillar

Apart from one fly I still have to ID, the ones I think are correct were Myathropa Florae, Xanthogramma pedissequum, Drone Fly, St Mark's Fly and Alderfly ( Sialis lutaria)

Drone Fly 

Fly sp. 

Possibly Xanthogramma pedissequum

The remains of a St Mark's Fly

Alderfly, Sialis lutaria

A Myathropa Florae

One interesting insect I came across was a Chironomus luridus. This looks like a mosquito but is from the Family Chironomidae and are non-biting. For all you anglers out there the larvae of this insect are bloodworm's.

A Chironomus luridus 

On the water there plenty of Canada Geese and one pair with 5 goslings. There were also 6 Tufted Duck with 2 pairs and 2 drakes. It was also nice to see that the Gadwall were still present and the drake is still not in adult plumage.  There was one Mute Swan on the water and the pen somewhere on the island, incubating eggs hopefully.

Mum and Dad protect the 5 goslings

Head down and what can we see.......

The Gadwall. Note the drake still doesn't have adult plumage!

As I walked around the southern end a Common Sandpiper shot off across the water, never to be seen again, which was a bit annoying. Other birds of note were 3 singing Blackcaps, a single Chiffchaff and a Robin singing away by the waters edge. A Swallow put in a brief appearance, no doubt wondering where all the flies had gone. I really don't think there was a lot of airborne bugs around today!

There's always a Robin singing. Even on a windy day

And the finale was watching the Great Crested Grebes and by the looks of it their single chick.

Mum taking youngster on a ride

The male on the right has just given the female a fish

Both parents and chick head for the nest.

And then the male goes of in the search of new nesting material

Birds Recorded were: 3 Great Crested Grebe 2 adults and a chick, 1 Cormorant flew south, A pair of Mute Swan, 19 Canada Goose plus 5 goslings, Mallard, a pair of Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck (2 pairs and 2 drakes), Moorhen, Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Wood Pigeon, a pair of Collared Doves, 1 Swallow, 1 Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, 3 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Butterflies and caterpillars recorded today: Just 3 Green-veined Whites and a Drinker moth caterpillar

Other insects recorded: A Drone Fly, Chironomus luridus, Myathropa Florae, Xanthogramma pedissequum and an Alderfly (Sialis lutaria)

Today's photos Here