Bees and insects in general have been few and far between here, but noticed a huge bumblebee this morning, plus a couple of smaller ones feeding on the snowdrops and crocuses as well as some kind of fly which appeared to be eating crocus pollen (body covered in it, so appeared orange, but think it was black/brown underneath.) No camera at the time, either.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Was it a big queen? I evicted what I thought was a wasp last week from the kitchen. When I looked closer it was a hoverfly. No idea how it got in the house.
My frogs and toads are "at it". I saw a clump of 4 frogs, a pair of toads and a further pair of frogs on top of the weed in my pond yesterday. I read the riot act to them every year telling them it is too early but they never listen. Sure as eggs we will have a late frost and the spawn will be destroyed. It is amazing how much noise they make for such little critters, also the variety of calls. Some seem to squeak, others have more grown up croaks, in a mix of tones. They were all about 3-4 ins across their backs so good healthy specimens. The newts will have a field day eating most of them. My pond is only 6ft diametre but brings such a wealth of wild life to the garden.
Yesterday I refilled my coconut shells with suet, seed, mealworms etc. and hung them on the feeder. The feeding station is like Picadilly Circus this morning. I am really lucky with the selection of birds which visit.
I am thinking of treating myself to a wildlife camera as my dog goes mad every evening, between midnight and 2.00am. I have never seen or heard anything but he definitely hears something. We do have deer, foxes and badgers around, I have found hoof prints around my car and found what I think could be hedgehog droppings but I am very curious to know what my nocturnal visitor might be.
My frogs and toads are "at it". ... I am thinking of treating myself to a wildlife camera...
I have frogs all summer in my mini pond, but none have yet bred there, which is kind of a shame. They don't over winter in the pond, I guess as it's too small, with no mud to snuggle into. Maybe that's why they breed elsewhere.
I have thought about getting a wildlife camera, but fear I would just get depressed by seeing only rats and cats. Ignorance is bliss.
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I don't really know my wasps. It looked pretty ordinary to me.
Yesterday I refilled my coconut shells with suet, seed, mealworms etc. and hung them on the feeder. The feeding station is like Picadilly Circus this morning. I am really lucky with the selection of birds which visit.
I am thinking of treating myself to a wildlife camera as my dog goes mad every evening, between midnight and 2.00am. I have never seen or heard anything but he definitely hears something. We do have deer, foxes and badgers around, I have found hoof prints around my car and found what I think could be hedgehog droppings but I am very curious to know what my nocturnal visitor might be.
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