Off Patch: six spectacular beetles

Cryptocephalus moraei, New Fen, Little Ouse Headwaters, 1st June 2020

Spruce Shortwing Beetle, Molorchus minor,  Swanton Novers Great Wood, 3rd June 2020

Oak Leaf-roller Weevil, Attelabus nitens, Swanton Novers Great Wood, 3rd June

Small Poplar Borer, Saperda populnea, Swanton Novers Great Wood, 3rd June 2020

Hazel Leaf-roller Weevil, Apoderus coryli, Swanton Novers Great Wood, 3rd June 2020

Tobacco-coloured Longhorn, Alosterna tobacicolor, Swanton Novers Great Wood, 3rd June 2020

Off Patch: Common Tubic

Common Tubic Alabonia geoffrella, Thursford Wood, 1st June 2020

Red and Black Leafhopper

Red and Black Leafhopper, Cercopia vulnerata, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Eight "flies" from along the River Hun

The sawfly Arge cyancocrocea, male, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The hoverfly Rhingia campetris, female, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The scorpionfly Panorpa germanica, male, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Red-legged Robberfly, Dioctria rufipes, female, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The sawfly Athalia rosae, female, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The Celery Fly Euleia heraclei, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The hoverfly Cheilosia albitarsis, male, River Hun, 8th May 2020

The Dance Fly Empis femorta, pair, snacking whilst copulating, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Four Shieldbugs from along the River Hun

Dock Bug, Coreus marginatus, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Blue Shield Bug, Zicrona caerulea, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Crucifer Shieldbug, Eurydema oleracea, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Legnotus limbosus, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Three early spring Craneflies

Tipula oleracea, female, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Tipula vernalis, male, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Nephrotoma appendiculata, female, River Hun, 8th May 2020

Common Fiddleneck - Amsinckia micrantha

While walking my dog this morning I came across what looked like a Bugloss with yellow flowers. I first identified this as Yellow Alkanet Anchusa ochroleuca but thanks to more detailed observation by Joan and Keith Fox it is in fact Common Fiddleneck Amsinckia micrantha. There was just one plant growing in the gravel on the SW corner of the Honeystone overflow car park (TF67114028).

Another from 2013 and some from today, 25th April 2020

Tropidia scita, Holme Marsh, 23rd June 2013

Yellow Archangel (variegated garden var), Old Hunstanton, 25th April 2020

Rhingia campestris, River Hun, 25th April 2020

Eupeodes luniger, male, Chapel Bank, Hunstanton, 25th April 2020

Chrysotoxum cautum, female,, Hunstanton dunes, 25th April 2020

A new hoverfly for the patch.....from 2013 !

Whilst sorting my photo collection, I came across these images taken in 2013. Date location and tentative identification present and correct, so I tried again but couldn't decide if it was one species or another near-identical. I posted on Facebook and had the beast identified within seconds by the national recorder. So, here's Anasimyia transfuga (the other possibility was A. contracta), Holmhurst Track, 19th May 2013. I've not seen another one in these parts.

Anasimyia transfuga, Holmhurst Track, 19th May 2013.

Barn Owl hunting on Ringstead Downs

Barn Owl, Ringstead Downs, 1st March 2020