Today you might see...

Sunday 11 May 2025
Grizzled skipper, Christophstal May 2025

Grizzled skipper, Christophstal May 2025

Common pond skaters, Christophstal May 2025

Common pond skaters, Christophstal May 2025

<em>Empis tessellata</em>, Christophstal May 2025

Empis tessellata, Christophstal May 2025

Micromus variegatus, Christophstal May 2025

Micromus variegatus, Christophstal May 2025

<em>Penthetria funebris</em>, Christophstal May 2025

Penthetria funebris, Christophstal May 2025

We've had some nice warm spring sunshine for a few days. This has brought out the insects. Today I saw two grizzled skippers in the garden - the first I've seen since June 2020. The past few years we've had really wet Mays so they've probably been around - I just missed seeing them due to the weather.

There were a few new insects recorded for the garden too.

I probably won't be recording many birds over the next few weeks as our house is surrounded by scaffolding which restricts my views.

Saturday 10 May 2025

As I was working in the garden, I had the opportunity to see insects I would normally miss. This speckled yellow was freshly emerged and was drying his wings in the sunshine. The hornet was collecting wood from our fence so there must be a nest being built nearby.

Speckled yellow, Christophstal May 2025

Speckled yellow, Christophstal May 2025

European Hornet, Christophstal May 2025

European Hornet, Christophstal May 2025

Saturday 3 May 2025

This opportunistic Common Wasp, Vespula vulgaris, has constructed a nest on the scaffolding outside our house. The construction started around 11:00 this morning and was finished around 20:00 this evening. No doubt our fence posts are significantly diminished! Click the image to see an animation.

Wasp nest construction, Christophstal May 2025

Wasp nest construction, Christophstal May 2025

Friday 2 May 2025
Tau emperor (female), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (female), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (male), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (male), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (female), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (female), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (male), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor (male), Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor eggs, Christophstal May 2025

Tau emperor eggs, Christophstal May 2025

Grey birch moth, Christophstal May 2025

Grey birch moth, Christophstal May 2025

<em>Cydia strobilella</em>, Christophstal May 2025

Cydia strobilella, Christophstal May 2025

Cydia strobilella, Christophstal May 2025

Cydia strobilella, Christophstal May 2025

I managed to get the moth trap out again last night. I had to place it up in the grass behind the house as the house is surrounded by scaffolding at the moment. Nonetheless, it was a really good night with two new macro moth species. The highlight was a male and female tau emperor moth. I found a caterpillar of this species a few years ago, but not in our garden so this is one of the new species. The female had layed three eggs in the trap so I've collected those and netted her up with some foodplants in the hope that she'll lay some more. **UPDATE** she layed another five eggs in the net before I let her go.

The other new species was a grey birch moth.

Thursday 1 May 2025

The weather is fantastic at the moment. I saw the first small copper butterfly of the year in the back garden today.

A black kite also flew over the house and a whinchat was sitting in one of our fruit trees.

Small Copper butterfly, Christophstal May 2025

Small Copper butterfly, Christophstal May 2025

Black kite, Christophstal May 2025

Black kite, Christophstal May 2025

Whinchat, Christophstal May 2025

Whinchat, Christophstal May 2025