Boxy
The beetles and bugs have been surprisingly slow to come out this year, despite a fortnight of temperatures that have been closer to June’s than to a normal English April. Today that weather began to break, and my scorched aucuba … Continued
Beauty and the beast
I went for a walk around the village this afternoon, more in hope than expectation of finding something interesting, but it turns out that it’s been an unusually good winter for Peacock butterflies. This was the third one I found, … Continued
Dark Chocolate
Compared with last year, this invertebrate season has got off to a rather slow start. This is especially true of hoverflies, of which I’ve only recorded four species so far, compared with the eight I’d seen by the same point … Continued
Aromatherapy
It was sleeping bumblebee day in the garden today. I followed this huge Bombus terrestris queen around the Viburnum tinus as she sipped from some of the flowers, then watched her land on a leaf, tuck in all her legs … Continued
Rabbit ears
It’s not particularly uncommon, though the Shire is probably towards the northern and western end of its range, and this specimen is a bit battered, but the sight of a Chrysotoxum hoverfly always lifts my spirits. All of them are … Continued
Sang-froid
We seem to be heading into a period of unsettled weather – for most of today it was overcast and not especially warm, and by dinner time it was raining. I dare say the local farmers won’t be unhappy about … Continued
