What are the Kingfisher and Grebe Eating?

So delighted that Kingfishers are busy at Paxton diving right in front of one of the hides - we think they are young birds and certainly this bird didn't seem to know quite what to do with the ?water beetle it had caught. The adult Great Crested Grebe caught a very large Tench and took a long while to swallow it and did not look very comfortable with the fish in its crop. 

Ivy Patch Insect Cafe

 I have been asked by several people in our village what the bees are that are burrowing into their lawns, with similar questions on our local 'Next Door' and Facebook on-line sites including  how do you get rid of them? Ivy bees are harmless - they don't sting, digging their burrows can help aerate lawns and they will die after only a week or two so do not need anything done other than admire their smart stripes, chestnut furry thoraces and incredible industry. The bees collect pollen and nectar to provision their nests from the Ivy which is in full flower  at the moment.  These insects were from one small low ivy bush that I came across on my walk across to Bourn today. 

Hairy Shieldbugs Rule OK

The Knapweed and Hollyhock seed heads in the garden are full of Hairy Shieldbugs at all stages of development including some pink newly moulted adults. Most plants have their selection of small Flea beetles and visiting flies which are keeping the Spiders and Lacewing larvae fed.  

West Scrub Survey Paxton Pits

 The numbers of species and individuals was very low compared with previous years in Saturday's survey area at Paxton Pits. The stars were a couple of Clouded Yellows visiting the Ragwort and a new species of 'Bug' for me -Megalonotus sabulicola