Late

Like the spring this year, this post has been a long time coming. Wildlife has been a bit thin on the ground in the arctic conditions, but last weekend the temperatures lifted a bit and tempted me into a stroll down to some local woods. On the way I stopped off at a large patch of dandelions, these much maligned flowers are hugely valuable to spring bees, and sure enough a female red mason bee was foraging away.

Red Mason Bee on Dandelion

A bit further along, and the hawthorn blossom was just starting to open in the hedgerows, attracting some more bees. With the temperature still a bit chilly, they were only flying in the sunny periods, so when the clouds came over it gave the chance to get some close-ups.

Common Carder Bee on Hawthorn

Andrena haemorrhoa male on Hawthorn

When I got to the woods the sun was out, and some spring hoverflies were taking advantage and basking on fresh leaves. Predictably Syrphus species and Epistrophe eligans were the most abundant, but another hoverfly caught my eye. Looking like a larger more orange Syrphus, I wondered at first if it was one of the banded Epistrophe species, but on closer inspection it proved to have distinctive downward pointing marks, which I didn't recognise from any species I'd seen before. An entertaining ten minutes ensued, as I tried to get some photographs, and the hoverfly cheerfully waited until my finger was on the shutter before flying to another leaf. Eventually I got some passable shots, from which I later identified the mystery hover as Didea fasciata, a fairly scarce but widespread hoverfly, often seen in spring.

Epistrophe eligans

Didea fasciata

The spring like feel to proceedings was enhanced further by the appearance of a Large Red Damselfly. Usually the first dragonfly to be seen each year, in this latest of springs I'd only seen my first a few days before, so to find one so far from water was a bit of a surprise. In the cool conditions it wasn't feeling too frisky, allowing me to take my time and get really close.

Large Red Damselfly

Shortly after the clouds came over in earnest, and I made my way home just as the first rain drops started to fall. Spring may not be springing very vigorously this year, but at least it got started eventually!