Blog Postings
The postings will be introductions to each of my life lists. The lists themselves will appear in the side margin. I shall do some postings about particular localities and there will also be postings to provide updates every time I add a new species.
Please note that I am not qualified in any aspect of natural history - there will therefore be occasional (or, apparently, in the case of the hoverflies, a lot of) errors.
I have been lamenting the paucity of butterflies - both in numbers and variety - this summer. However, when I looked down the lists at the side of this blog I realised that the eleven species seen at The Willows didn't include the Painted Lady, a migrant which has been in the garden this summer. So the number of species seen in the garden since we moved in five years ago has risen to twelve.
This bee appeared in the garden the other day. For a moment I thought it was a Carder Bee but then I realised it looked quite different. Much brighter and bigger. I think, repeat, think, it is
Bombus distinguendus, the Great Yellow Bumble Bee. But I wouldn't bet on it. Comments welcome!
I'm not very good at identifying flies and I'm not sure how many dozens of unidentified or uncertain photos I've got - but it's a lot. I think this is one I have photographed before -
Atherix ibis.
GB's garden provided me with my first photos of
Bombus jonellus - the Heath Bumblebee, also known as the Small Heath Bumblebee - 17th July 2009.
An Ichneumon Wasp.
Also known as Ichneumon flies these are relatives of the Bees and Wasps. I haven’t seen this species before. Unfortunately I cannot identify it as there is no comprehensive guide to British Ichneumons. This species has a distinctive hind leg.
