Owling lore has it that Short-eared Owls don’t hunt in bad weather. I’ve said it myself, with great confidence, on many occasions. It used to be widely believed, including by me, that this was because their feathers aren’t waterproof, but … Continued
I used to have a tall Euphorbia characias Wulfenii in the middle of the rose bed in the back garden which was mildly popular with Andrena fulva females, and for several years I would haunt this plant through April and May, … Continued
I’m featuring yet another plumpie because the photo reminds me of the joy of spring I felt this morning, when the sun emerged brightly and the invertebrates all came out to play. Interesting Bee of the Day is probably the … Continued
Technically, it wasn’t all that cold today. But it felt cold, and not just to me: extensive trawling of the garden this afternoon harvested just one Hairy-footed Flower Bee, one Buff-tailed Bumblebee, two hoverflies, one weevil, three ladybirds and a … Continued
This was my first Eupeodes of the season, and I was pleased to have my identification confirmed by the hoverfly recorders, because male Eupeodes are tricky, and can’t always be taken to species. We have nine of these species in … Continued
The spring is sprung, The grass is ris’, I wonder where the bee-flies is…? Oh. There you are. About time too. Actually, this is exactly the same date as last year for my first sighting of a Dark-edged Bee-fly – … Continued
On the way home from school this morning, the Boy Wonder began talking about medicines for some reason, but after he told me with great relish how sweet Calpol is, I switched the discussion to the importance of only taking … Continued
For most of today I expected to be posting either the Green Shieldbug I found on the honeysuckle this morning, or an Early Bumblebee which was working one of the gooseberry bushes in the secret garden. But late this afternoon, … Continued
