A Springtime walk around Comfort's Wood...

 This update is a record of my walk around the woods on April 10th 2024.

This Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) was still fairly dark looking. They have the ability to turn almost brown during winter, and back to green come spring...

This is how they normally look ...

We always called these Sloe Bugs for years: now we have to refer to them as Hairy Shieldbugs (Dolycoris baccarum)

I guess this photo does show how the new name suits them...

And my first Dock Bug of 2024 (Coreus marginatus)

Lots of small Crab Spiders about on this walk...

This last photo is just to give you an idea of actual size...

Curculio glandium - A male acorn weevil...

There seemed to have been a mass emergence of these drone flies; they were everywhere...

I wondered at first if this could be the dreaded Asian Hornet, but no, it's just the European version...

And I think this is just a common wasp... 

Ladybirds next. Starting with this 14-spot (Propylea quattuordecimpunctata)

Honestly! That's its proper name.

And a pair of 7-spots (Coccinella septempunctata)

Then a Orange ladybird (Halyzia sedecimguttata)

More Hoverflies: this one is a female Epistrophe eligans...

And a female Helophilus pendulus...

I spotted a couple of Speckled Wood Butterflies; unfortunately for this early in the season, they were both tatty...

A Green Longhorn Moth - Adela reaumurella...

Also a micro-moth. Not sure of identity on this one, but possibly something like Esperia Sulphurella

This strange creature is most likely to be Chironomus plumosus: usually seen during spring and summer when males create mating swarms which people can find quite a nuisance even though adults do not bite or feed. This one is a male, hence the fancy head-gear!

And in my opinion, I saved the best find until last. there are a couple of very similar beetles, but I think this one is Pogonocherus hispidulus. The other possibility would be  Pogonocherus hispidus. 

What a stunning Longhorn Beetle this is: only small, but beautiful...

That's all for this update.

18th February 2023

The reasons for being unable to record and share images of the woods over the past few years are many, and nefarious, and so I'll save you the heartache of having to read all about them, and instead share the recent walk I did get.

And so the photographs that follow are all from today (18 February 2023) and have been taken using my phone...

Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first!

Yes...

If this is you desecrating our beautiful woodland with your selfish, unthinking actions, there's only one message I have for YOU!

Okay, let's forget about what man has to offer, and see what nature can provide...

Anybody who lives locally will know that we've had some turbulent weather of late, and that's resulted in a bit of damage to a few of the weaker trees.

Winter catkins

I'm hoping that the work to clear those areas left and right of the main path of undergrowth has not jeopardised any of the bugs and insects that would have been overwintering there. 

I think this is Wood Ear, or Jelly Ear fungi

Some of the fabulous trees to be found within the woods...

Pussy willow in bud...

This might be Ramalina farinacae lichen 

One of the ponds

Decaying wild rose hips...

The large stone marking the final resting place of the Comfort's, benefactors of these amazing woods...

In an area close by the daffodils are poking their heads above the woodland floor...

As much as I abhor folk who allow (or probably don't even notice) their dogs fouling the woods, and failing to responsibly remove the offending material (and that doesn't mean just hanging it in a bag from a tree!), to an amateur entomologist, it's fascinating just how much life it can sustain...

More fungi now: I think this one is Turkey Tail. A very beneficial fungi health wise...

Both the 'penis' tree, and 'weevil' tree are still here. I'll leave you to decide which is which...

I wonder who lives here?

More new growth...

The area known by locals as 'the dip'...

The view that greets you from the Swattenden Lane entrance... 

And so that's my record of one day at the woods. I'll try not to leave it another 3 years before I add something fresh.