Wild and Wonderful

2026 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: My Results

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0000

I have just taken part in the annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. It is always interesting (and fun) to sit down with a mug of coffee, a notebook and a pair of binoculars. The Jay and the Goldfinch (a single one, which is unusual) were a close call at the end, and sadly the semi-regular Greenfinches failed to show up during the hour. I have a hunch I saw many more Blue tits than the figure suggests, but I only recorded the number I definitely saw at a given time. I was surprised that there was only one Wood Pigeon.

If you haven't taken part, you can still do so today (24 Jan. 2026) or tomorrow.

My total:

One or two 'quick pics' taken during the hour...

Dunnock

Blue tit

Blue tit and Great tit

Jay

I wonder why my results were lower than average for this year. We don't often see five Magpies at once and the Jay is only an occasional visitor, but perhaps these larger birds were keeping some of the smaller ones away. The House Sparrows failed to show up and since they tend to move in a small flock, they would have boosted the total somewhat. We have noticed a decline in Blackbirds, so were pleased to spot a male and a female.

'Polar Corona', my Poetry Pamphlet on Antarctic Exploration (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:15:00 +0000

Polar Corona, my poetry pamphlet on Antarctic exploration ... is out and available for £7.99 (in the UK). For further details, click here.

Festive Fact

The staff at Rothera Research Station in Antarctica have been given a Royal Mail 'lamp' postbox in time for Christmas. For further details, see here.

How about a Stocking Filler? 'Polar Corona', Official Release Day

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:36:00 +0000

And the mice? See page 14

TODAY'S THE DAY...

Are you looking for a stocking filler? Or a small gift for yourself? Take a look here.

Today, Thursday 18th, Flake Appreciation Day (see here), marks the Official Release of my new snowbound poetry pamphlet, Polar Corona (Hedgehog Poetry Press, £7.99).

*'Signed copy' orders: see here for ordering instructions. You can DM me on Facebook or leave a comment on this blog. Copies ordered up until 3pm/15:00hrs via these methods for UK destinations will be posted First Class this afternoon.*

From the blurbs:

“Caroline Gill has produced a beautifully crafted cycle of poems, in which the final line of each one is taken up by the next until the final poem brings us back to where we began, in a perfect round. These poems bring the Antarctic to life, a vast world of ice and snow, a world of astonishing loveliness, illuminated by the stars, and at the same time a world in which human beings and creatures such as penguins live out a perilous existence... To read these poems is to be confronted with a terrifying beauty, and with courage in its purest form.”

– Professor J. R. Watson, University of Durham

“In Polar Corona, Caroline Gill offers a vivid and precise depiction of Antarctica’s landscape and wildlife, especially the seasonal rhythms of penguins’ lives, interwoven with a poignant exploration of human fortitude in this most testing of environments. Her marvellous ear for the music of a poem is evident throughout and the intricate pattern of mostly half rhymes cleverly accentuates the pervading sense of risk and unpredictability...”

– Susan Richardson Author of Where the Seals Sing (William Collins, 2022) and Words the Turtle Taught Me (Cinnamon Press, 2018), shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award

“When we introduce people to objects, artworks and archives in our polar collections, they are transported to a time and place far removed from our museum in Cambridge. In Caroline Gill’s evocative Polar Corona, she closes the distance and brings the ‘heroic age’ of polar exploration to life. Her words open a window in our imaginations directly onto Antarctica’s remote sights and sounds.”

– Dr Charlotte Connelly Former Museum Curator, The Polar Museum, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

'Polar Corona', my Crown of Sonnets about the Antarctic

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 22:26:00 +0000

I am excited to say that I have just received advance copies of Polar Corona, my prize-winning 'crown-of-sonnets' poetry pamphlet, published by the Hedgehog Poetry Press.

For further details: click here.

From the blurbs:

– Susan Richardson, Author of Where the Seals Sing (William Collins, 2022) and Words the Turtle Taught Me (Cinnamon Press, 2018), shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award

– Professor J. R. Watson, University of Durham

– Dr Charlotte Connelly, Former Museum Curator, The Polar Museum, Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge

Snow Buntings at Landguard, Felixstowe

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 22:42:00 +0000

As we entered the Landguard Nature Reserve at Felixstowe last Sunday afternoon, we noticed that 'Snow Buntings' were included on the Bird Observatory list of species recorded that day.

We were just about to head for home as the sun was setting fast when, thanks to a tip-off, we were able to enjoy a few minutes in the company of a pair of these beautiful creatures.

My grainy photos are barely record shots, but the light was fading and my zoom lens was finding it hard to focus. Never mind. It was such a joy to see the birds that we headed for home with smiles on our faces.

Garden List of Species

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Elephant Hawkmoth larva (2024)

New species for the garden

female Banded Demoiselle (30 July 2025)

Those who have visited my blog before will know that I have been keeping a list of the wildlife I see in our suburban Suffolk garden since 2014. For a creature to be counted, it must be seen, or occasionally heard, from within, underneath or above our boundary. Some years ago I began keeping an eye on the wildflowers (see here for the most recent list ... and also here) that we noticed in the garden. I may decide to combine the two lists at some point.

* = an identification given via iSpot.

Trailcam: this has given us photos of a fox, various mice and birds and the hedgehog. The hedgehog came (for water and Yora insect-based food) nearly every night until well after Christmas 2024.

[R] = a regular visitor

[O] = an occasional one.

Incidentally, the Migrant Hawker sightings in the list below inspired one of the poems in my 2021 poetry collection, Driftwood by Starlight, which is is now available in the online shop for The Seventh Quarry Press. Do take a look here.

And now to my updated list...

Avian sightings

HPb1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [O] [early March, June, Aug 2020]early Mar., 17 June 2021, 17 April 2022 Jan 202320242025
HPb2 Great tit [R] 202020212022202320242025
HPb3 Long-tailed tit [R] 202020212022202320242025
HPb4 Blackbird [R] 20202021, with young2022202320242025
HPb5 Song Thrush [27 April 2019 - a pair] [27 March 2020]202220242025
HPb6 Blue tit [R] 20202021, with young2022202320242025
HPb7 Robin [R] 20202021, with young2022202320242025
HPb8 Magpie [R] 202020212022202320242025
HPb9 Wood Pigeon [R] 202020212022202320242025
HPb10 Dunnock [R] 202020212022202320242025
HPb11 Starling [R] 20202021, with young2022202320242025
HPb12 Carrion Crow [R] 20202021202220242025
HPb13 Goldfinch [R] 20202021, with young2022202320242025
HPb14 Jay [O] 2020 Mar. 2021 (two)2022 20232024
HPb15 Green Woodpecker [O] seen in passing [May 2020]
HPb16 Wren [O] [27 March 2020]20212022202320242025
HPb17 Bullfinch [19 January 2017] 2020
HPb18 Sparrowhawk [June 2020] [25 Feb 2021]202220242025
HPb19 Mallard
HPb20 House Sparrow [1 June 2019] [June 2020]Mar.20212022
202320242025
HPb21 Chaffinch 2020 Mar. 20212025
HPb22 Grey Heron [18 and 26 Feb 2020] early May 2021202220242025
HPb23 Collared Dove [R] 2020 202120222024 (nesting)2025
HPb24 Coal tit 2021202220242025
HPb25 Redwing [20 January 2017] Feb 202120222023
HPb26 Kestrel [8 June 2017] 4 June 20212022
HPb27 Blackcap [Feb 2020] 28 Feb, 7 Mar 2021 18 Apr 2022 Jan 202320242025
HPb28 Greenfinch [6 Feb 2020]29 Jan 2023June 2024May 2025
HPb29 Swift [15 July 2020]16 June 20212022June 20242025
HPb30 Buzzard [Sept 2020] 16 June 2021202220242025
HPb31 Fieldfares [a flock, garden first, February 2021]2025
HPb32 Common Gull Mar. 2021
HPb33 RedKite 2022 30 Jan 2023
HPb34 Redpoll 11 Feb 2023
HPb35 Black-backed gull 20242025
HPb36 House Martin 2024

Cuckoo - not listed as such because it just missed our garden, but for only the second time since we moved here nearly a decade ago, I not only heard one calling but also caught sight of it. [2 June 2021]

Chiffchaff - not listed as such because although it could be heard from the garden, it was beyond our boundary. 2 April 2025

Tawny Owl - not listed as such because although it could be heard from the garden, it was beyond our boundary. May 2025

Mammal sightings

HPm1 (?Wood) Mouse Mar. 202120222024 Trailcam2025Trailcam
HPm2 Bat [1st 2015 sighting 7 May 2015] [Apr/May 2015] [22 Jan 2017] [Aug 2018] [8 Aug 2019] [May, 17, 25 July 2020] 18 May, 15 June, 26 Aug 202112 July 202220231 May 2024May 2025
HPm3 Shrew 2x 2024, dead 2025
HPm4 Grey Squirrel [R] and now [O] 2020 15 Mar, Aug 20212022202320242025
HPm5 Stoat
HPm6 Hedgehog [9 Aug 2018] [1 June 2019]Aug, Sept 202220232024 Trailcam 2025Trailcam
HPm7 Fox June 2022 Trailcam

Amphibian sightings

HPam1 Common Frog [26 May 2019] 12 July, 27 Aug 202220232024, 2nd June: two frogs
HPam1 Common Toad 2 Aug 20225 April 2025

Reptile sightings

HPr1 Common Lizard (two. A new species for the garden!) [1, 8 August 2020]
HPr2 Grass Snake (A new species for the garden!) 8 August 2023
HPr3 Slow worm (A new species for the garden!) 25 July 2024

Insect sightings

HPi1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly [March 2014] [27 Feb 2017] three, Aug 2021202220232025
HPi2 Buff-tailed Bumblebee [March 2014] [Jan/Feb 2016] [Mar/Apr 2016] [2017] 202020212022202320242025
HPi3 Brimstone butterfly [April 2014] [5 June 2019] 2020202120222025
HPi4 7-spot Ladybird [April 2014] [Oct 2014] [2015] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Sept/Oct 2015] [Mar/Apr 2016] 202020212022202320242025
HPi5 Small Skipper butterfly [July 2014] [26 July 2019] [20,21 June 2020]2021202220232025
HPi6 Meadow Brown butterfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [12 June 2020, six!]20212022202320242025
HPi7 Large White butterfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2016] [21 June 2020]7 June 20212022202320242025
HPi8 14-spot Yellow Ladybirds [July 2014] [May 2019] [1 July 2020]2024
HPi9 Small White butterfly [May 2014] [Apr/May 2015] [Sept/Oct 2015 - larvae] [2 May 2019] 202020212022202320242025
HPi10 Orange tip butterfly [May 2014] 2020 11 May 2021Apr 2022202320242025
HPi11 Harlequin ladybird [May 2014] [October 2014] [Sept/Oct 2015] [1 April 2019, N.B. spotless] 2024
HPi12 Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola) [June 2014] [June/July 2016] [18 May 2018] 2024
HPi13 Ruby-tail Wasp [June 2014] [May/June 2015] [May/June 2016] [21 May 2017] [May 2020]
HPi14 Blackfly [R] 2020202220242025
HPi15 Marmalade Hoverfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Jul/Aug 2016] [20 June 2020]202220242025
HPi16 Gorse Shield bug [27 March 2020]
HPi17 Migrant Hawker dragonflies [July 2014]2021Aug 2022Aug 2025
HPi18 Gatekeeper butterfly [Jul/Aug 2016] [9 Aug 2019] 20202021202220232025
HPi19 Comma butterfly [August 2014] [June/July 2016] [2017] [8 Aug 2019] 202020212022202320242025
HPi20 Red Admiral butterfly [August 2014] [October 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [8 Aug 2019] [14 June 2020]Aug 2021 16 May 2022202320242025
HPi21 Peacock butterfly [August 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Nov/Dec 2015] [8 Aug 2019] [27 March 2020] [two on 25 March 202110 Mar2025 2022202320242025
HPi22 Green bottle flies [August 2014] [May/June 2015] 2020202220232024
HPi23 Ants [R] [27 March 2020]20212022202320242025
HPi24 Squashbug aka Dock Bug, (Coreus marginatus ) [August 2014] [May 2018, mating]July 2024
HPi25 Birch Shieldbug (late instar?) [September 2014]
HPi26 Lacewing [October 2014] [Sept/Oct 2015] [14 June 2020]
HPi27 Cereal Leaf Beetle [Apr/May 2015]
HPi28 Painted Lady [2018] [8 Aug 2019]three, Aug 202127 May 20222023May 2025
HPi29 Rosemary Beetle [[Sept/Oct 2015] [May/June 2016 - four] [May 2017]
HPi30 Hawthorn Shieldbug [May/June 2015]
HPi31 Forest Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes) [Sept/Oct 2015]
HPi32 *Early Bumblebee [Mar/Apr 2016] 20212024
HPi33 *Species of Miridae [Mar/Apr 2016]
HPi34 Cranefly [R] 20202021202220232024
HPi35 Crossocerus, wasps family Crabronidae [May/June 2016]
HPi36 Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis) [May/June 2016]
HPi37 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus (Pyrobombus) hypnorum) [May/June 2016]
HPi38 Moth Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) [May/June 2016]
HPi39 Holly Blue Butterfly [26 May 2017] [27 April and 6 June 2019] 202026 May 2021 2 May 2022202320242025
HPi40 Dark Bush Cricket (nymph) [18 May 2017] [10 June 2019] [10 June 2020] 25 May 202220232024
HPi41 Common Cockchafer [18 May 2017] [14 June 2019] [10 June 2020]5 June 2021202220232025
HPi42 Scorpion Fly [May2017] [23 May 2017] 8 June 202126 May 20222025
HPi43 Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica) [2017] [13 May 2018][2019] 202020222023
HPi44 Cabbage Bug (Eurydema (Eurydema) oleracea) [2017] [9 June 2017]
HPi45 Light Brown Apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) [2017] [23 May 2017]
HPi46 Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) [9 May 2018]1 May 2024
HPi47 Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) [11 May 2018] 2020202116 July 2022
HPi48 Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) [15 May 2018] 2020 24 May 2021 20 April 202220232025
HPi49 Ruby Tiger moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) [18 May 2018] 2020 26 May 2025
HPi50 Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) [24 May 2018] [2019] 202015 June, 27 Aug 20212022202320242025
HPi51 Mullein Moth larva (Cucullia verbasci) [14 June 2018]
HPi52 Silver Y moth [two - August 2018] 14 July 2020Aug 2021 26 May 20222023
HPi53 Rove Beetle (Platydracus stercorarius) [September 2018]
HPi54 *Green Long-horn moth 13 May 202120222023
HPi55 Fire bug nymph [17 April 2019]2022
HPi56 Pine Ladybird [1 April 2019] 2020202120222025
HPi57 Cinnabar moth [4 and 5 April 2019] [21 June 2020]2022
HPi58 Small Red Damselfly [20 May 2019] 20202024
HPi59 *Tortoise Bug [3 June 2019]
HPi60 *Cryptolaemus montrouzieri [6 June 2019]
HPi61 *Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus (Nathrenus) verbasci) [6 June 2019] 202020222024
HPi62 *Empis tessellata [31 May 2019]
HPi63 *Macrophya [22 May 2019]
HPi64 *Bagworm moth case (Psychidae: Common Sweep, Psyche casta) [31 May 2019] 22 May 2022 20236 May 2024 (with larva emerging)
HPi65 *Greater Bulb-Fly (Merodon equestris) [22 May 2019] 2020
HPi66 *Figwort Weevil larva (Cionus scrophulariae) [22 May 2019]
HPi67 *Arge Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea) [22 May 2019] 2020
HPi68 *Sarcophaga [16 May 2019]
HPi69 *Juniper Shield Bug (Cyphosthetus tristriatus) [16 May 2019]
HPi70 *St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci) [28 April 2019] 19 May 202120222023
HPi71 Fairy Longhorn moth (Adela) [9 May 2019]20212022202310 May 2024
HPi72 *Dagger Fly (Empis Tessellata) [13 May 2019]
HPi73 *Honey bee (Apis mellifera) [31 May 2019] 202020212022202320242025
HPi74 *Rutpela maculata [14 June 2019]
HPi75 *Soldier Fly (Stratiomyidae) [12 June 2019]
HPi76 *Small Dusty Wave moth (Idaea seriata) [31 May and 5 Sept 2019]
HPi77 *Planthopper (Issus Coleoptratus) [18 June 2019]
HPi78 Sexton (Burying) Beetle [7 Aug 2019]
HPi79 Small Copper [3 Aug 2019] [10 May 2020] 2 June 2021 26 May 2022202320242025
HPi80 *Speckled Bush Cricket [3 Aug 2019], nymph, July 2024
HPi81 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) [24 Mar 2020]202220242025
HPi82 *Rhyparochromus vulgaris Ground bug [2 April 2020] 13 Mar 2021
HPi83 *Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena (Andrena) fulva) [11 April 2020] 27 May 20212024
HPi84 *Dolichovespula media [19 April 2020]
HPi85 Mother Shipton moth [May 2020]
HPi86 Green Hairstreak [May 2020] 12 May, 9 June 2021
HPi87 *Angle Shades moth [25 May 2020]
HPi88 Green-veined White [Apr 2020]20242025
HPi89 Malachite beetle [June 2020]
HPi90 Thick-legged Flower Beetle [June 2020]2022202320242025
HPi91 Common Froghopper [12 June 2020]
HPi92 Small Heath [13 June, 18 July 2020]
HPi93 Stag Beetle (female) [13 June 2020]20222023
HPi94 Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius, m & f) [18 June 2020]20222025
HPi95 Long hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta [18 June 2020]
HPi96 Blue-tailed Damselfly [14 June 2020]2024
HPi97 Common White Wave moth [13 June 2020]
HPi98 Ringlet butterfly [25 June 2020] 2021202220242025
HPi99 Leaf-cutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) [26 June 2020]20222024
HPi100 *Lesser Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus) [27 June 2020]2023 May, 3 June 202419 May 2025
HPi101 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (see here) [3 July 2020]2025
HPi102 Ichneumon Amblyteles armatorius [10 July 2020]
HPi103 Emperor Dragonfly [16 July 2020]16 July 2022
HPi104 Swallowtail moth [16 July 2020]
HPi105 *Brown Argus (a first for the garden!) [18, 24 July 2020] 2021202220232025
HPi106 *White-point moth (another first for the garden!) [18 July 2020]24 May 2022
HPi107 *Hairy-legged Mining Bee, aka Pantaloon bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) (a first for the garden!) [18 July 2020] July 2025
HPi108 White Plume moth (and another first for the garden!) [25, 27 July 2020]2022
HPi109 *Southern Hawker (female, and another first for the garden!) [8 Sept 2020]
HPi110 Field Grasshoppers [Aug and Sept 2020]2022
HPi111 Purple Hairstreak (a first for the garden!) [3 Aug 2020]
HPi112 Rove Beetle (Ocypus olens) Aug 2022
HPi113 Meliscaeva auricollis. [25 March 2021]
HPi114 * Nomada marshamella [30 April 2021]
HPi115 Rhopalid/Cinnamon bug Corizus hyoscyami [30 May 2021]1 May 2024
HPi116 Muslin moth [9 June 2021]
HPi117 Banded Demoiselle [15 June 2021]
HPi118 Box-tree moth [Aug 2021]larvae, April 20222023
HPi119 Hummingbird Hawk-moth [3 September 2021]202220232025
HPi120 Kite-tailed Robber Fly [July 2021]
HPi121 *Agriotes lineatus March 2022
HPi122 * Early Thorn moth Selenia dentaria 17 April 2022
HPi123 * Turtle (shield)bug Podops inuncta 6 May 2022
HPi124 Grayling butterfly 6 August 20222025
HPi125 Clouded Yellow butterfly (a first for the garden!) 13 September 2022
HPi126 * Oedemera lurida (similar to Oedemera nobilis)2023
HPi127 Common Blue Damselfly 29 May 2024
HPi128 Yellow Shell moth (two) June 20242025
HPi129 Elephant Hawk-moth (adult) 26 July 2024
HPi130 Silver-ground Carpet moth Xanthorhoe montanata 20 May 2025
HPi131 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth Hemaris fuciformis 23 May 2025
HPi132 Hornet Mimic Hoverfly Volucella zonaria July 2025
HPi133 Banded Demoiselle (female) 30 July 2025
HPi134 European Beewolf July 2025

Molluscs

HPm1 Brown Lipped Snail (Cepaea (Cepaea) nemoralis) [May/June 2016] 20202021202220232024
HPm2 Field Slug (Deroceras) [May/June 2016] 2021

Arachnids

HPa1 Zebra Spider [Apr/May 2015] [May/June 2015] [Mar/Apr 2016] [May 2018] 20202022202311 May 2024
HPa2 Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) [May/June 2015] [27 April 2019] 2022
HPa3 *Cucumber spider (Arianella) [31 May 2019]
HPa4 *Jumping spider (Heliophanus) [22 May, Sept 2019]
HPa5 Crab spider, with pink stripes, aka 'White Death' (Misumena vatia) [9 Aug 2019]
HPa6 Nursery Web spider (Heliophanus) [22 Mar 2020] (Spiderlings hatch: 27 June 2020) 2021202211 May, 27 July 2024
HPa7 *Noble False Widow 23 June 202120228 July 2024
HPa8 Wasp spider [new! four, 5-9 Sept 2020] three, Aug 2021202227 July 2024

- - -

Unusual sightings

These strange Psyche casta cases make me think of the external casings of Caddisfly larva I have seen. These are eventually shed by the larval form (you can just make it out) of a moth.

Unusual residents include the False Widow spider (see here) and the Wasp Spider. I definitely prefer sharing a garden with the latter (see here; you can just make out the beautiful egg-sac).

Recent sightings

Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth, 23 May 2025

Digging in the Dirt: Adventures in Ecopoetry. An Anthology of New Writing (Poets for the Planet/MK Lit Fest)

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 17:41:00 +0000

I have just received my contributor's copy of this new eBook, designed to raise awareness of the Climate Crisis through ecopoetry, with profits going to 'Give Peat a Chance' (link on this site).

My thanks to everyone involved in the project, and particularly in the running of the inspirational workshop and the preparation of the eBook.

Copies of the eBook can be purchased here. The cost is £2 (and it is hoped that purchasers may add a small donation for 'Give Peat a Chance').

Snake in the Undergrowth at Dunwich Heath

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 21:54:00 +0000

Above. Photo credit: David Gill

We took a picnic to Dunwich Heath today, and down in Docwra's Ditch our eyes alighted on a very small slithery thing, a young adder. It was about 9cm in length and (from a respectable distance) reminded me of a fat earthworm. What a beautiful creature!

David at the 'entrance' to the heath

The beach at Dunwich, with a single jogger and a single swimmer in sight

Jersey Tiger

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 22:07:00 +0000

Photo credit: David Gill

There has been a lot of publicity in recent days about the Jersey Tiger moth. I had never seen one until this afternoon when we noticed this one on the beach at Landguard, near Felixstowe. We have had the occasional Ruby Tiger in the garden and have seen one or two Scarlet Tigers (mainly in Cornwall), but this was my first Jersey.

What a beautiful insect! And there is something rather ethereal about it in flight when the striking orange-red underwings are displayed.

Resting on the groyne

Wonderful striped legs!

On the beach. Photo credit: David Gill

A Garden First today: the Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 23 May 2025 22:18:00 +0000

Photo credit: David Gill

We were absolutely thrilled to find this beautiful insect, a summer visitor, on our self-seeded Valerian this morning. The Valerian comes up each spring in our left-to-nature garden and has often attracted the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, but this was rather different.

The wings were flapping so fast that they hardly show up on my photos below, so I am grateful to David for his picture above.

I began a journaling-style sketch of the moth; I may post it in due course ...

A flutter of jungle red

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sun, 27 Apr 2025 11:56:00 +0000

We thought we had a Cinnabar moth flying around our wild garden yesterday afternoon, but I think you will agree that it was a Ruby Tiger ... or three 😊. Another 2025 species for the garden list.

Spring, and the wildlife begins to return

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 21:03:00 +0000

To my surprise and delight, this small-to-medium sized toad appeared in the garden around 1pm. It was our first amphibian sighting of the year.

David uploaded our Trailcam pictures yesterday and was thrilled to find several recent photographs of the resident hedgehog ... including the two below. Consequently, we have begun to put food out again. We also ensure that there is a dish of water.

March (above)

April (below).

2025 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sat, 25 Jan 2025 22:14:00 +0000

Like many of you, I took part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2025 today. I had hoped for higher numbers, and indeed I saw other birds about, such as a Great tit, but not during the hour in question.

I wonder which birds you saw ...

Here are some of the garden visitors who showed up during my hour ...

Blackbird

Robin

Blue tit

House sparrow

Hedgehog, Latest Update

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 19:05:00 +0000

Nearly a fortnight on ... and the hedgehog is still visiting.

I would love to know if s/he may yet hibernate. We have already had a cold snap when we had to break the ice on the water bowl. The advice seems to be to keep feeding while the animal continues to visit unless s/he looks very under weight or unwell.

New Year Greetings of the Hedgehog Kind

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 23:04:00 +0000

A very happy new year,

filled with wildlife,

to all who are reading this post.

Some of you will know that we have been feeding a 'regular' hedgehog in our garden. We bought a hedgehog house just over a year ago in the hope that we might have a hibernating visitor.

The hedgehog has continued to delight us this year, but it seems she (we think it's a female) is reluctant to settle down, despite the icy temperatures. I know hedgehogs occasionally wait until mid-December to hibernate, but surely 4th January is rather late. We have been trying to feed her up with nightly meals and we so hope she makes it through to the spring.

Toad and Friends: This Week in Our Wild Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 11:47:00 +0000

We looked out the window yesterday morning at about 10.30 ... and were greeted with the sight of this rather magnificent toad. This is the second time we have seen the toad on our patio this summer.

I have decided to post the extremely poor record shot above as much as a note to myself as anything.

The point is that I saw the Migrant hawker in the lower half of this image, and took a quick photo, little realising that there was actually a second dragonfly above (see black arrow). Result: the top dragonfly has been cut in two unnecessarily. It was only a record shot (a quick first image in case the creature flew away), and as such the quality doesn't worry me too much; but what concerns me is the fact that even after this photograph had been taken, I still failed to notice the second insect. I have been thinking about William Blake and his famous, albeit metaphorical, line about seeing a universe in a sand particle; well, it seems I need to sharpen up my powers of observation and concentration considerably.

Below: this is a better image of the top dragon (which in mind at the time was the lower and only one, so presumably by this time the lower one had flown), showing off the distinctive yellow golf-tee marking on S2, just below the wings:

The photo below shows one of our two Wasp spiders. You can see a white food parcel near the top and what will become a second once the spider has completed her task. I'm wondering if she has wrapped up a small bee.

And finally for now, my first garden sighting of a tiny 22-spot ladybird. The sun was in completely the wrong place and the insect was only about 3mm in length, but at least I was able to identify it from the poor-quality photo.

There have not been many butterflies about this week in the garden; perhaps it has been too windy. Even so, we have logged Peacock, Red Admiral, Large and Small White, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Comma and Holly Blue. I wonder what the weekend will bring. I am still hoping to see my first Painted Lady of the season.

2024 Garden Butterfly Sightings Up Until 1 August

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 11:54:00 +0000

This dainty Brown Argus is the most recent butterfly to appear in our garden this year. It represents the 15th species spotted within our boundary. The chart below shows my records for the Garden Butterfly Survey. Naturally, some days produce more sightings than others depending on factors such as time in the garden, weather and butterfly cycles.

The garden had a large white Buddleia when we moved in over twelve years ago. It also had a range of trees and bushes. We have allowed the grass to grow long and have added a butterfly house, a large trough of Nasturtiums (I never know if these are primarily for the Large White caterpillars to eat or for us to enjoy!), Verbena bonariensis and some herbs. We also have three mini-ponds and a water bowl for the hedgehog, so water is always available.

The list will enlarge with a double-click.

The first column is for the scientific species name, followed by the common English name. Next comes the family name, e.g. Pieridae refers to the white (and 'white-ish') butterflies. The number column gives the total of butterflies seen between the dates of the first 2024 sighting on the left (column 5) and the most recent on the right. If my calculations are correct, the chart shows a total of 195 butterfly records since the late start of the 2024 butterfly season.

I would hope to see a Small Heath and a Common Blue by the end of the season. Watch this space!

Elephant Hawk-moth, Another 'Garden First'

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 22:05:00 +0000

Some years ago we were delighted to find an Elephant Hawk-moth caterpillar very close to our home. This afternoon we discovered an adult moth in our long grass, in close proximity to the anthill where we found the Slow worm only yesterday. Another entry for our home patch list of species.

My photo ... to give an impression of the long grass location

Larval stage, my photo taken close to home, 2021

Slow Worm

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:36:00 +0000

Not the best photograph, but never mind.

There was a hush of great excitement this afternoon when this beautiful Slow worm was seen draping herself over a large anthill in the long grass in our wild garden.

We have seen Common lizards before on rare occasions and a single Grass snake last summer, but this was an exciting first for us. The black stripe over brown scales suggests a female. Slow worms are neither worms nor snakes; they are in fact legless lizards.

Like the Common lizard and the Grass snake, Slow worms are protected by law. We hope the visiting cats will avoid the anthills and long grass.

Tiger (Moth) Time

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:49:00 +0000

Scarlet Tiger moth, Anglesey Abbey, Cambs.

We have been to the water mill at Anglesey Abbey on many occasions. We have often watched swans, dragonflies and damselflies. This time our eyes were averted by a fluttery flash of red: a Scarlet Tiger moth in flight. I have never seen these magnificent insects in the east of England before, and my Cornish sightings have been few and far between.

I loaded a photo on to iSpot, and one of the other contributors to the site suggested I contact the County Moth Recorder for Cambridgeshire. I have now had the ID confirmed (not that I was really in any doubt on this occasion), but I have also learned that this species appears to be moving east and that the predominant moth on a relatively nearby fen was in fact the Scarlet Tiger. What a magnificent creature to find in National Insect Week!

Scarlet Tiger

Small Eggar (Eriogaster lanestris) larva, Anglesey Abbey

Our next sighting was less showy, but interesting nonetheless. The moth larva in the photo above floored me somewhat in terms of an ID. As you can see, it was on a pathway with pebble-sized stones, quite close to the Visitors' Centre. The photo fails to show the conifers that towered above the path.

I had imagined that the 'blanket-stitch' edging would aid identification considerably, but I drew a blank. Once again the folk on iSpot came to my rescue, suggesting an ID of Small Eggar, a 'Nationally Scarce' category B species. I see it usually turns up in the west but that there have been sightings in Norfolk.

Water mill on the lode at Anglesey Abbey

Updated Garden List of Species, 2024

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 21:34:00 +0000

Taken: 1 May 2024

Those who have visited my blog before will know that I have been keeping a list of the wildlife I see in our suburban Suffolk garden since 2014. For a creature to be counted, it must be seen within, underneath or above our boundary. Some years ago I began keeping an eye on the wildflowers (see here for the most recent list ... and also here) that we noticed in the garden. I may decide to combine the two lists at some point.

* = an identification given via iSpot.

Trailcam: this has given us photos of a fox, various mice and birds and the hedgehog. The hedgehog comes (for water and Yora insect-based food) nearly every night now that the hibernation season is over.

[R] = a regular visitor

[O] = an occasional one.

And now to my updated list...

Avian sightings

HPb1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [O] [early March, June, Aug 2020]early Mar., 17 June 2021, 17 April 2022 Jan 20232024
HPb2 Great tit [R] 20202021202220232024
HPb3 Long-tailed tit [R] 20202021202220232024
HPb4 Blackbird [R] 20202021, with young202220232024
HPb5 Song Thrush [27 April 2019 - a pair] [27 March 2020]20222024
HPb6 Blue tit [R] 20202021, with young202220232024
HPb7 Robin [R] 20202021, with young202220232024
HPb8 Magpie [R] 20202021202220232024
HPb9 Wood Pigeon [R] 20202021202220232024
HPb10 Dunnock [R] 20202021202220232024
HPb11 Starling [R] 20202021, with young202220232024
HPb12 Carrion Crow [R] 2020202120222024
HPb13 Goldfinch [R] 20202021, with young202220232024
HPb14 Jay [O] 2020 Mar. 2021 (two)2022 20232024
HPb15 Green Woodpecker [O] seen in passing [May 2020]
HPb16 Wren [O] [27 March 2020]2021202220232024
HPb17 Bullfinch [19 January 2017] 2020
HPb18 Sparrowhawk [June 2020] [25 Feb 2021]20222024
HPb19 Mallard
HPb20 House Sparrow [1 June 2019] [June 2020] Mar. 2021202220232024
HPb21 Chaffinch 2020 Mar. 2021
HPb22 Grey Heron [18 and 26 Feb 2020] early May 202120222024
HPb23 Collared Dove [R] 2020 202120222024 (nesting)
HPb24 Coal tit 202120222024
HPb25 Redwing [20 January 2017] Feb 202120222023
HPb26 Kestrel [8 June 2017] 4 June 20212022
HPb27 Blackcap [Feb 2020] 28 Feb, 7 Mar 2021 18 Apr 2022 Jan 20232024
HPb28 Greenfinch [6 Feb 2020]29 Jan 2023June 2024
HPb29 Swift [15 July 2020]16 June 20212022June 2024
HPb30 Buzzard [Sept 2020] 16 June 202120222024
HPb31 Fieldfares [a flock, garden first, February 2021]
HPb32 Common Gull Mar. 2021
HPb33 RedKite 2022 30 Jan 2023
HPb34 Redpoll 11 Feb 2023
HPb35 Black-backed gull 2024
HPb36 House Martin 2024

Cuckoo - not listed as such because it just missed our garden, but for only the second time since we moved here nearly a decade ago, I not only heard one calling but also caught sight of it. [2 June 2021]

Mammal sightings

HPm1 (?Wood) Mouse Mar. 202120222024 Trailcam
HPm2 Bat [1st 2015 sighting 7 May 2015] [Apr/May 2015] [22 Jan 2017] [Aug 2018] [8 Aug 2019] [May, 17, 25 July 2020] 18 May, 15 June, 26 Aug 202112 July 202220231 May 2024
HPm3 Shrew 2x 2024
HPm4 Grey Squirrel [R] and now [O] 2020 15 Mar, Aug 2021202220232024
HPm5 Stoat
HPm6 Hedgehog [9 Aug 2018] [1 June 2019]Aug, Sept 202220232024 Trailcam
HPm7 Fox June 2022 Trailcam

Amphibian sightings

HPam1 Common Frog [26 May 2019] 12 July, 27 Aug 202220232024, 2nd June: two frogs
HPam1 Common Toad 2 Aug 2022

Reptile sightings

HPr1 Common Lizard (two. A new species for the garden!) [1, 8 August 2020]
HPr2 Grass Snake (A new species for the garden!) 8 August 2023
HPr3 Slow worm (A new species for the garden!) 25 July 2024

Insect sightings

HPi1 Small Tortoiseshell butterfly [March 2014] [27 Feb 2017] three, Aug 202120222023
HPi2 Buff-tailed Bumblebee [March 2014] [Jan/Feb 2016] [Mar/Apr 2016] [2017] 20202021202220232024
HPi3 Brimstone butterfly [April 2014] [5 June 2019] 202020212022
HPi4 7-spot Ladybird [April 2014] [Oct 2014] [2015] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Sept/Oct 2015] [Mar/Apr 2016] 20202021202220232024
HPi5 Small Skipper butterfly [July 2014] [26 July 2019] [20,21 June 2020]202120222023
HPi6 Meadow Brown butterfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [12 June 2020, six!]2021202220232024
HPi7 Large White butterfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2016] [21 June 2020]7 June 2021202220232024
HPi8 14-spot Yellow Ladybirds [July 2014] [May 2019] [1 July 2020]2024
HPi9 Small White butterfly [May 2014] [Apr/May 2015] [Sept/Oct 2015 - larvae] [2 May 2019] 20202021202220232024
HPi10 Orange tip butterfly [May 2014] 2020 11 May 2021Apr 202220232024
HPi11 Harlequin ladybird [May 2014] [October 2014] [Sept/Oct 2015] [1 April 2019, N.B. spotless] 2024
HPi12 Garden Chafer (Phyllopertha horticola) [June 2014] [June/July 2016] [18 May 2018] 2024
HPi13 Ruby-tail Wasp [June 2014] [May/June 2015] [May/June 2016] [21 May 2017] [May 2020]
HPi14 Blackfly [R] 202020222024
HPi15 Marmalade Hoverfly [July 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Jul/Aug 2016] [20 June 2020]20222024
HPi16 Gorse Shield bug [27 March 2020]
HPi17 Migrant Hawker dragonflies [July 2014]2021Aug 2022
HPi18 Gatekeeper butterfly [Jul/Aug 2016] [9 Aug 2019] 2020202120222023
HPi19 Comma butterfly [August 2014] [June/July 2016] [2017] [8 Aug 2019] 20202021202220232024
HPi20 Red Admiral butterfly [August 2014] [October 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [8 Aug 2019] [14 June 2020]Aug 2021 16 May 202220232024
HPi21 Peacock butterfly [August 2014] [Jul/Aug 2015] [Nov/Dec 2015] [8 Aug 2019] [27 March 2020] [two on 25 March 202110 Mar 202220232024
HPi22 Green bottle flies [August 2014] [May/June 2015] 2020202220232024
HPi23 Ants [R] [27 March 2020]2021202220232024
HPi24 Squashbug aka Dock Bug, (Coreus marginatus ) [August 2014] [May 2018, mating]July 2024
HPi25 Birch Shieldbug (late instar?) [September 2014]
HPi26 Lacewing [October 2014] [Sept/Oct 2015] [14 June 2020]
HPi27 Cereal Leaf Beetle [Apr/May 2015]
HPi28 Painted Lady [2018] [8 Aug 2019]three, Aug 202127 May 20222023
HPi29 Rosemary Beetle [[Sept/Oct 2015] [May/June 2016 - four] [May 2017]
HPi30 Hawthorn Shieldbug [May/June 2015]
HPi31 Forest Shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes) [Sept/Oct 2015]
HPi32 *Early Bumblebee [Mar/Apr 2016] 20212024
HPi33 *Species of Miridae [Mar/Apr 2016]
HPi34 Cranefly [R] 20202021202220232024
HPi35 Crossocerus, wasps family Crabronidae [May/June 2016]
HPi36 Wasp Beetle (Clytus arietis) [May/June 2016]
HPi37 Tree Bumblebee (Bombus (Pyrobombus) hypnorum) [May/June 2016]
HPi38 Moth Least Black Arches (Nola confusalis) [May/June 2016]
HPi39 Holly Blue Butterfly [26 May 2017] [27 April and 6 June 2019] 202026 May 2021 2 May 202220232024
HPi40 Dark Bush Cricket (nymph) [18 May 2017] [10 June 2019] [10 June 2020] 25 May 202220232024
HPi41 Common Cockchafer [18 May 2017] [14 June 2019] [10 June 2020]5 June 202120222023
HPi42 Scorpion Fly [May2017] [23 May 2017] 8 June 202126 May 2022
HPi43 Soldier Beetle (Cantharis rustica) [2017] [13 May 2018][2019] 202020222023
HPi44 Cabbage Bug (Eurydema (Eurydema) oleracea) [2017] [9 June 2017]
HPi45 Light Brown Apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana) [2017] [23 May 2017]
HPi46 Large Red Damselfly (Pyrrhosoma nymphula) [9 May 2018]1 May 2024
HPi47 Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) [11 May 2018] 2020202116 July 2022
HPi48 Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) [15 May 2018] 2020 24 May 2021 20 April 20222023
HPi49 Ruby Tiger moth (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) [18 May 2018] 2020
HPi50 Mint Moth (Pyrausta aurata) [24 May 2018] [2019] 202015 June, 27 Aug 2021202220232024
HPi51 Mullein Moth larva (Cucullia verbasci) [14 June 2018]
HPi52 Silver Y moth [two - August 2018] 14 July 2020Aug 2021 26 May 20222023
HPi53 Rove Beetle (Platydracus stercorarius) [September 2018]
HPi54 *Green Long-horn moth 13 May 202120222023
HPi55 Fire bug nymph [17 April 2019]2022
HPi56 Pine Ladybird [1 April 2019] 202020212022
HPi57 Cinnabar moth [4 and 5 April 2019] [21 June 2020]2022
HPi58 Small Red Damselfly [20 May 2019] 20202024
HPi59 *Tortoise Bug [3 June 2019]
HPi60 *Cryptolaemus montrouzieri [6 June 2019]
HPi61 *Varied Carpet Beetle (Anthrenus (Nathrenus) verbasci) [6 June 2019] 202020222024
HPi62 *Empis tessellata [31 May 2019]
HPi63 *Macrophya [22 May 2019]
HPi64 *Bagworm moth case (Psychidae: Common Sweep, Psyche casta) [31 May 2019] 22 May 2022 20236 May 2024 (with larva emerging)
HPi65 *Greater Bulb-Fly (Merodon equestris) [22 May 2019] 2020
HPi66 *Figwort Weevil larva (Cionus scrophulariae) [22 May 2019]
HPi67 *Arge Sawfly (Arge cyanocrocea) [22 May 2019] 2020
HPi68 *Sarcophaga [16 May 2019]
HPi69 *Juniper Shield Bug (Cyphosthetus tristriatus) [16 May 2019]
HPi70 *St Mark's Fly (Bibio marci) [28 April 2019] 19 May 202120222023
HPi71 Fairy Longhorn moth (Adela) [9 May 2019]20212022202310 May 2024
HPi72 *Dagger Fly (Empis Tessellata) [13 May 2019]
HPi73 *Honey bee (Apis mellifera) [31 May 2019] 20202021202220232024
HPi74 *Rutpela maculata [14 June 2019]
HPi75 *Soldier Fly (Stratiomyidae) [12 June 2019]
HPi76 *Small Dusty Wave moth (Idaea seriata) [31 May and 5 Sept 2019]
HPi77 *Planthopper (Issus Coleoptratus) [18 June 2019]
HPi78 Sexton (Burying) Beetle [7 Aug 2019]
HPi79 Small Copper [3 Aug 2019] [10 May 2020] 2 June 2021 26 May 202220232024
HPi80 *Speckled Bush Cricket [3 Aug 2019], nymph, July 2024
HPi81 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major) [24 Mar 2020]20222024
HPi82 *Rhyparochromus vulgaris Ground bug [2 April 2020] 13 Mar 2021
HPi83 *Tawny Mining Bee (Andrena (Andrena) fulva) [11 April 2020] 27 May 20212024
HPi84 *Dolichovespula media [19 April 2020]
HPi85 Mother Shipton moth [May 2020]
HPi86 Green Hairstreak [May 2020] 12 May, 9 June 2021
HPi87 *Angle Shades moth [25 May 2020]
HPi88 Green-veined White [Apr 2020]2024
HPi89 Malachite beetle [June 2020]
HPi90 Thick-legged Flower Beetle [June 2020]202220232024
HPi91 Common Froghopper [12 June 2020]
HPi92 Small Heath [13 June, 18 July 2020]
HPi93 Stag Beetle (female) [13 June 2020]20222023
HPi94 Red-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius, m & f) [18 June 2020]2022
HPi95 Long hoverfly Sphaerophoria scripta [18 June 2020]
HPi96 Blue-tailed Damselfly [14 June 2020]2024
HPi97 Common White Wave moth [13 June 2020]
HPi98 Ringlet butterfly [25 June 2020] 202120222024
HPi99 Leaf-cutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) [26 June 2020]20222024
HPi100 *Lesser Stag Beetle (Dorcus parallelipipedus) [27 June 2020]2023 May, 3 June 2024
HPi101 Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (see here) [3 July 2020]
HPi102 Ichneumon Amblyteles armatorius [10 July 2020]
HPi103 Emperor Dragonfly [16 July 2020]16 July 2022
HPi104 Swallowtail moth [16 July 2020]
HPi105 *Brown Argus (a first for the garden!) [18, 24 July 2020] 202120222023
HPi106 *White-point moth (another first for the garden!) [18 July 2020]24 May 2022
HPi107 *Hairy-legged Mining Bee, aka Pantaloon bee (Dasypoda hirtipes) (a first for the garden!) [18 July 2020]
HPi108 White Plume moth (and another first for the garden!) [25, 27 July 2020]2022
HPi109 *Southern Hawker (female, and another first for the garden!) [8 Sept 2020]
HPi110 Field Grasshoppers [Aug and Sept 2020]2022
HPi111 Purple Hairstreak (a first for the garden!) [3 Aug 2020]
HPi112 Rove Beetle (Ocypus olens) Aug 2022
HPi113 Meliscaeva auricollis. [25 March 2021]
HPi114 * Nomada marshamella [30 April 2021]
HPi115 Rhopalid/Cinnamon bug Corizus hyoscyami [30 May 2021]1 May 2024
HPi116 Muslin moth [9 June 2021]
HPi117 Banded Demoiselle [15 June 2021]
HPi118 Box-tree moth [Aug 2021]larvae, April 20222023
HPi119 Hummingbird Hawk-moth [3 September 2021]20222023
HPi120 Kite-tailed Robber Fly [July 2021]
HPi121 *Agriotes lineatus March 2022
HPi122 * Early Thorn moth Selenia dentaria 17 April 2022
HPi123 * Turtle (shield)bug Podops inuncta 6 May 2022
HPi124 Grayling butterfly 6 August 2022
HPi125 Clouded Yellow butterfly (a first for the garden!) 13 September 2022
HPi126 * Oedemera lurida (similar to Oedemera nobilis)2023
HPi127 Common Blue Damselfly 29 May 2024
HPi128 Yellow Shell moth (two) June 2024
HPi129 Elephant Hawk-moth (adult) 26 July 2024

Molluscs

HPm1 Brown Lipped Snail (Cepaea (Cepaea) nemoralis) [May/June 2016] 20202021202220232024
HPm2 Field Slug (Deroceras) [May/June 2016] 2021

Arachnids

HPa1 Zebra Spider [Apr/May 2015] [May/June 2015] [Mar/Apr 2016] [May 2018] 20202022202311 May 2024
HPa2 Garden Spider (Araneus diadematus) [May/June 2015] [27 April 2019] 2022
HPa3 *Cucumber spider (Arianella) [31 May 2019]
HPa4 *Jumping spider (Heliophanus) [22 May, Sept 2019]
HPa5 Crab spider, with pink stripes, aka 'White Death' (Misumena vatia) [9 Aug 2019]
HPa6 Nursery Web spider (Heliophanus) [22 Mar 2020] (Spiderlings hatch: 27 June 2020) 2021202211 May, 27 July 2024
HPa7 *Noble False Widow 23 June 202120228 July 2024
HPa8 Wasp spider [new! four, 5-9 Sept 2020] three, Aug 2021202227 July 2024

- - -

Unusual sightings

These strange Psyche casta cases make me think of the Caddisfly larva I have seen, but they are actually made and eventually shed by a moth.

Unusual residents include the False Widow spider (see here) and the Wasp Spider. I definitely prefer sharing a garden with the latter (see here)! You can just make out the beautiful egg-sac.

More Hedgehog Photographs from the Trailcam

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:58:00 +0000

Rushing for the food before the cats and mice find it first ...

Gently does it ...

The New 'Wild Spaces' Project From Butterfly Conservation

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:37:00 +0000

David and I joined Butterfly Conservation at the start of the lockdowns. For the last two years I have been counting butterflies for the Garden Butterfly Survey.

Butterfly Conservation has launched a new initiative called 'Wild Spaces'. Participants have the chance to write about their particular wild space and to post photographs. They also have the opportunity to see who else is taking part in their area (for obvious security reasons actual addresses are not shown).

You can read about the project here.

Sadly, with a few exceptions such as Holly Blue and Orange Tip, this has not been a good start to the 'butterfly season' for us in our neck of the woods. We noticed that Matthew Oates was saying much the same on X (Twitter) today. However, we finally saw our first Meadow Brown on Saturday, so perhaps things will start to pick up ...

βρεκεκεκέξ ~The Frogs Are Back

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 21:44:00 +0000

I am absolutely delighted to find that we have a resident frog in both our mini-ponds. Last summer we had one 'regular' with very occasional sightings of a second, so it is exciting to start my 2024 frog observations with two.

Shame about the leaf!

And this is the second frog in the second mini-pond:

For βρεκεκεκέξ see here.

Caught On Our Trailcam

noreply@blogger.com (Caroline Gill) — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 18:18:00 +0000

We think this is a Song Thrush. rather than a Mistle Thrush: do you agree?

Robin taking off?

A hungry hedgehog

Hedgehog and snail

Hedgehog and snail (2)