June 2026

27th. There are lots of sulphur beetles Cteniopus sulphureus around the coast currently. Some here alongside red soldier beetles at Godrevy.

There are yellow-legged mining bees Andrena flavipes nesting semi- colonially along the cliffs.

26th. Around Levant Mines we saw large shaggy bees Panurgus baksianus laden with pollen.

There may have been small shaggy bees P. calcaratus in the hawkish composites too, though I couldn't see the partially pale antennal flagellae.

Female spiny mason wasps Odynerus spinipes were digging at Levant Mine, with some early chimney construction maybe apparent (penultimate image).

Their parasitic jewel wasps Chrysis viridula were also present.

Hetty found a thrift clearwing moth. I also saw a dune chafer, and photographed a western bee fly Bombylius canescens.

At Bartinney, there were black-tailed skimmers and golden-ringed dragonflies on the wing.

I was looking for tormentil mining bees Andrena tarsata, and probably saw about five females with their orange hind tibiae and tarsi.

I think the image below may be the grey-banded mining bee A. denticulata however as the hind leg parts are maybe darker?

24th. We visited St Uny's Churchyard in Lelant to look for large scabious mining bees. We saw quite a few, including pollen-laden females, on the same date last year. We are currently experiencing the hottest June days on record, though haven't quite hit 30C in West Cornwall yet, and this may have affected their flying. I saw at least three male large scabious mining bees, and the yellow clypeus is visible in the photo with a swollen-thighed beetle. Small skipper, hummingbird hawk moth, six-spot burnet and narcissus bulb flies were also present.

17th. Calling quail at Shirehill Lane near Marshfield. Corn buntings, yellowhammers and stock doves too.

14th. Common lizard and 2 grass snakes at Ham Wall. One of the grass snakes had a cloudy brille (ocular scale) suggesting it was close to moult.

Great reed warbler singing at Shapwick Heath, close to Noah's Hide.

At Catcott Lows we saw 3 cattle egret, heard some cranes, and also saw a male marsh harrier, a bittern and heard a distant Savi's warbler. Lots of peacock larvae on the nettles.

10th. Hetty spotted the squacco heron flying into Herriot's Pool at Chew Valley Lake at dusk. I also saw a common tern, marsh harrier, hobby, 2 cattle egret and hundreds of swifts. A cuckoo was calling. Record shot of the heron below - looks like an immature bird.

9th. We found 5 bee orchids on Durdham Downs.

8th. The two adult peregrines were in the Avon Gorge. No sign of any flying juveniles.