Fieldfares & Redwings

Two new bird species were added to the garden list on 13th January as Fieldfares and Redwings came into the garden to drink at the ponds.

Pied Wagtail

The snow brought a Pied Wagtail to The Willows. A new bird for the garden species list.

Painted Lady

 

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.

 

The Great Yellow Bumble Bee - perhaps!

 



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!
 

Atherix ibis

 


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.