'Signs of Spring' Survey at Paxton Pits

 Our first survey of the year at Paxton is always along the main Heron Trail recording any wildlife (plants in leaf/flower, birds, insects). This is a useful year-to-year comparison. Despite the cold and blustery conditions, the sunny intervals brought out quite a bit of insect life. My favourite was the Simulid midge - minute but amazingly sculptured - it is on a nettle leaf so the stinging hairs give scale!!. We were pleased to see our new bee terrace being used - Andrena bicolor was the commonest bee recorded there.

First Wildlife Survey in Toft 2024

The present warm temperatures (up to 18 degrees yesterday) have certainly woken up the insects in Toft. Athough the two hoverflies are the same as last year around this time - Episyrphus balteatus and Eristalis tenax - there were lots of different Diptera species, a new bug to me - the Jumping Nettle louse, lots of Ladybirds including another new species, the Pine Ladybird, an interesting Door Snail, three species of spider, and four Hymenoptera including the expected Early Bumblebee - Bombus  pratorum.

Anglesey Abbey January 26th

 We visited Anglesey Abbey last Friday on a beautiful 'spring' sunny morning to admire the spring flowers already well into bloom. Not the easiest flower photography conditions for white and yellow flowers! I experimented photographing high key into the light  - needed a bit more care with focal points and depth of field but like the overall impression of delicate flowers and spring sunshine. Even a few early bees around foraging on the daffodils

Autumn in the Garden

The Ivy is now in full flower and full of Ivy bees - first recorded in UK in 2001 and in Toft in 2017. Also full-grown Dark Bush-Crickets enjoying the berries, large number of Spiders and Carder Bees in the Michaelmas Daisies show autumn is really here now.