Thursday 5th June

Four independent, but not yet fledged, juvenile Little Grebe were on the Main Pond, with the six Canada Geese goslings still surviving in Greenland Lake. Oystercatcher were the only waders to arrive in The Bight on the incoming tide.

Other Wildlife: A better day than the weather forecasted with a relatively dry afternoon seeing an increase of insects on the wing. These included the first Small Skipper in the Crocus Compound, Common Awl Robberfly Neoitamus cyanurus in the Skipper Meadow and a Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus in Greenland Lake. 

Small Skipper - Alan Keatley

Black Snipefly Chrysopilus cristatus - Alan Keatley

Also on the wing both Pearl Lacewing Chrysopa perla and Common Green Lacewing Chysoperla carnea, Ornate-tailed digger Wasp Cerceris rybyensis and the hoverfly Bolete Blacklet Cheilosia scutellata. 

Ornate-tailed digger Wasp Cerceris rybyensis - Alan Keatley

Three species of orchid were in flower in Greenland Lake, including the first Marsh Helleborine of the year and just three Bee Orchid following the spring drought.

Bee Orchid - Alan Keatley

Marsh Helleborine - Alan Keatley