Pete's Favourite Things

Yeaterday I went on a walk organised by the London Natural History Society along the River Crane starting from Whitton and finishing at Crane Island Local Nature Reserve.

The focus of the walk was insects although all aspects of natural history were noted.

Among the highlights of the day were a good number of Banded Demoiselle, which was the most numerous of 4 species of damselfly seen

A first sighting for me was the Tree Bumblebee which was found in good numbers along the river

Among other insects were spiders, beetles, flies and ladybirds

There were also some interesting birds including this sighting of a young Nuthatch examining the outside world.

Thanks to Ian who lead the walk and to the other members for their help with indentification of beetles, spiders and other insects. A very good day.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
Mallard [sp] (Anas platyrhynchos)
Common Moorhen [sp] (Gallinula chloropus)
Common Wood Pigeon [sp] (Columba palumbus)
Eurasian Collared Dove [sp] (Streptopelia decaocto)
Rose-ringed Parakeet [sp] (Psittacula krameri)
Great Spotted Woodpecker [sp] (Dendrocopos major)
European Green Woodpecker [sp] (Picus viridis)
Eurasian Magpie [sp] (Pica pica)
Western Jackdaw [sp] (Coloeus monedula)
Carrion Crow [sp] (Corvus corone)
Great Tit [sp] (Parus major)
Eurasian Blue Tit [sp] (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Eurasian Blackcap [sp] (Sylvia atricapilla)
Eurasian Wren [sp] (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Eurasian Nuthatch [sp] (Sitta europaea)
Common Starling [sp] (Sturnus vulgaris)
Common Blackbird [sp] (Turdus merula)
Song Thrush [sp] (Turdus philomelos)
European Robin [sp] (Erithacus rubecula)
House Sparrow [sp] (Passer domesticus)

Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens)
Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans)
Azure Damselfly (Coenagrion puella)
Small Red Damselfly (Ceriagrion tenellum)

Large White (Pieris brassicae)
Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)