Bugs, Bees, Beetle and Butterfly

As the cooler moist air arrived yesterday afternoon, a lot of insects became active especially various leaf bugs - some new to my list for the garden!!. Still lots of Bees and Wasp species plus a very small beetle, first Comma butterfly and a large number of Hoverflies!

Toft Birds - Some Migrants Have Arrived

Chiffchaffs (images 1,3) and Willow Warblers (2,4) were singing their heads off this morning. I do hope that they both have partners and may be joined by other pairs. There was a Blackcap singing in the Allotments but no Whitethroats (hopefully still to arrive). Only a single Swallow hunting over the field and so far only one Skylark. There are no Yellowhammers or Reed Buntings but since the banks of the Brook have been cleared there isn't a habitat for them.

 Looking back at my bird sightings book for 1967 when I moved to Toft - so many birds are no longer seen/heard on my walks - Corn Bunting, Turtle Dove, Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat, House Martin, Swifts, Linnets, Spotted Flycatcher, Snipe, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker etc We have gained the Red Kite!!

Latest Toft Invertebrates

With warm and relatively still conditions, there were lots of species to photograph in the garden yesterday. My favourite images are of the male Jumping Spider males found wandering across one of the flower beds.

Willow Warbler Arrived in Toft Wood

Heard my first Willow Warbler of the year in Toft Wood this afternoon - hopefully there will be a partner for him and at least one other pair. The buds are breaking on most of the trees and shrubs though the oaks are still tightly closed. Ted approved of a late afternoon walk. The wood is 30 years old this year - doesn't seem that long ago I helped plant it on open fields.