Garganey and Megarthrus prosseni

Friday was a day off, overcast but still. I wandered about looking for things and birding. I ran the moth traps, but only two as the battery wasn't charged for one, forgot to turn the charger on. Nothing much in the traps, a few intruders included six Nicrophorus humator and five Stenophylax pernistus. More in vague hope than any real expectation in the dull conditions I put three colour tray traps out.

Afternoon I wandered down the track to have another look at The Shunan, and amongst the drake Gadwall and Shovelers suddenly from nowhere appeared a drake Garganey. There have been two previous occurences of this neat wee duck on the patch in the past, 2nd May 2014 and 23rd May 2015, on both those occasions I saw the bird from the car on the way to work. This time I was on foot, I also scented the chance of a garden tick. The dog and I turned and hiked back up the hill. From the favoured bench the duck remained in view, nice. It was still present yesterday and by late yesterday afternoon had been joined by a friend.

Three Gadwall, a Shoveler and a drake Garganey.

Not much in those colour traps, a Helophorus sp in the orange one, a large one, so either aequalis or grandis. There's a trick with these, shove a piece of paper under the elytra and view the last abdominal segement from underneath the beetle. Even then a bit tricky to see but grandis has nice regular cog teeth at the end of the segement whilst on aequalis it's all a bit random.

Helophorus aequalis.

There was little else in the traps except a small Staphylinidae. On examination this proved to be Megarthrus prosseni, awaiting confirmation, thanks again to Mike Hackston for his fabulous online keys.

Not the best photo, on H. grandis the "teeth" would be much more obvious.

The Helophorus was quite a big thing, 6 - 7mm the other beetle was a tad smaller.

Megarthrus prosseni I reckon.

Quite distinctive with the incised corners to the pronotum. I recall catching one of this genus before but I'm not sure it was this one. Looks as if there might not be previous records of this species here, I have the specimen anyway.

On Thursday I checked the pitfall traps by the dead Rook. The Rook has been festering for a few weeks. I'd put the traps in around the Rook following an online recommendation for the plan.

Good call, 13 Thanatophilus rugosus plus assorted Staphs and a Cercyon melanocephalus, most released, just kept sample Staphs to ID, not sure what the big shiny one is, on the list to "do".

Subsequently, the traps have contributed a few more of everything plus a rather cross and smelly Nicrophorus humator.

Nicrophorus humator, on top of the actinic trap.

 Other trap intruders - Psychodidae - 90 odd species, tricky beggars best left alone, lots of these.

Stenophylax pernistus, strictly requires gen det but on distribution most likely this species.

Common Pug, new moth for the year on Friday night.

Anthrocoris nemorum, beaten from willow.

Expect a swarm sometime soon, when it warms up probably, Fever Fly, Dilophus febrilis.

For the first time I had my first Sedge Warbler of the year when it was snowing. Bit of snow today, it actually settled for a bit.

Meadow Pipit

Lesser Redpoll from kitchen window, three ringers locally have done 150 of these this year.

Brown Hare from the car today.