1 x Large White, 1 x Peacock, 3 x Speckled Wood, 20+ Green-veined White.
Bright and warm.
Mostly hoverflies today. The first two images help to give a sense of scale. In the left-hand image we have Helophilus pendulus (left) and Melanostoma scalare (right, about 1 cm. long)). In the right-hand image we have Sericomyia silentis (right, about 2 cm. long)) and Syrphus ribesii (left). The Syrphus and the Helophilus are very close to each other in size, so the range of sizes can clearly be seen.
Two shots of landing Platychierus scutatus. Male (left) and female (right).
Two shots of a female Platychierus albimanus just landing.
Two shots of the first Large White of the year. Note the hoverfly at the lower left of the right-hand image.
A new hoverfly for the website: Parasyrphus punctulatus. When landed, it would be difficult to pick out this hoverfly, as the abdominal spots would be hidden by the wings. A common species, especially near conifers.
A pair of Melanostoma scalare: female (left) and male (right).
With hundreds of hoverflies present, some had to fall prey to predators. Here a female Scathophagus dungfly has caught a Melanostoma.
A sign of things to come. Angelica leaves have appeared.
Rhingia campestris are just emerging and flying around at high speed.
A close-up of Syrphus ribesii.
My first Speckled Wood shot of the year. I saw a pair of these in a mating dance that spiralled away above the Spruce trees.