RXwildlife Sightings

Today’s sightings: Little ringed plover, dunlin, black-tailed godwit, sand martin, swallow, yellow wagtail, white wagtail, reed warbler (the first of the year), sedge warbler, chiffchaff and raven.

One of the highlights from Tuesdays workparty at Castle Water was finding several Common Bee-fly (Bombylius major) in close proximity with Dotted Bee-fly (Bombylius discolor). Although the Common Bee-fly is more widespread and the best known British species it has not been recorded that often on the reserve. The two are difficult to tell apart while flying , but it was interesting to see the dark leading edge on the wings of the Common Bee-fly gradually appear as the wing speed reduced while engaging in small manoeuvers around flowers when feeding.