I'm still struggling to upload photographs for some reason, so I'm going to stick to video sequences until I can get it sorted out.
Hoverflies make fascinating subjects, especially when studying feeding behaviour.
Tropidia scita is a hoverfly that is quite abundant at Afton Marsh. Yesterday I noticed that the flowering Yellow Flag was attracting them. Sometimes there were as many as 4 on the same plant at one time!
Another species that has suddenly exploded onto the scene in numbers locally is Meliscaeva auricollis - the arrow like marks on the abdomen are a good pointer to this species. Here is a bit of close up of an individual feeding on the pollen of a Hemlock Water-dropwort plant at the marsh.
Lovely to see them and to hear your bird song.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant hoverfly videos, Steve. More!
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me laugh, Rob! :-) It's all a bit amateur - trying to keep my hand still etc etc! But I'll keep hammering away! Blackbird, chaffinch, wood pigeon....and a helicopter, Toffeeapple! :-)
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