Garganeys have been giving me the run-around this week.
Up to four, but most often a pair, have been reported from the Budge fields most days. I go and look them in the evening after work and can't find them. That changed tonight and I finally got lucky, only just mind. Two minutes we arrived in the hide, after only just getting onto the female, the pair flew off north, over the hide, presumably to East Chevington.
The real highlight was a stunning Spotted Redshank though, in full breeding plumage. My first 'Spotshank' since September 2019 and the first black one since the spring of the same year. Breeding-plumaged Spotty Redshanks are always a highlight of the spring.
The weather has been cold and I've not seen any other new species since the weekend and I don't think numbers of warblers has increased since then. Swift was reported again today - I haven't even seen a House Martin yet.
Waders have been few too, 12 Whimbrel pitched in at dusk on Monday and Avocet numbers vary from four to 20 and Ruff seem to come and go.
Here are some hoverflies and a bee from last Sunday.
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| Female Eristalis pertinax |
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| Melanostoma mellinum (male) |
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| Male Helophilus pendulus |
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| Male Eristalis sp |
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| Female Eristalis pertinax |
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| Record shot of Marsham's Nomad Bee - Nomada marshamella - a new bee for me for the patch |
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