Today you might see...

Sunday 17 March 2024
<em>Platybunus pinetorum</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Platybunus pinetorum, Christophstal March 2024

<em>Platybunus pinetorum</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Platybunus pinetorum, Christophstal March 2024

<em>Platybunus pinetorum</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Platybunus pinetorum, Christophstal March 2024

<em>Platybunus pinetorum</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Platybunus pinetorum, Christophstal March 2024

At the end of summer last year, I identified my first harvestman and I was fascinated by the other species that can be found. In particular I wanted to see one of the species with strange eye capsules.

This morning, I spotted this Platybunus pinetorum which did indeed have the sort of eye capsule that I was looking for. I'll continue to look out for more species over this year.

Wednesday 13 March 2024

We spotted a sick-looking long-tailed tit this morning. Shortly afterwards, the sick individual was on the ground and two other long-tailed tits were seemingly attacking it.

I did some online research and there are no other records of any aggressive behaviour from long-tailed tits, so it is likely that something else was going on here. Christine wondered whether they might be performing some form of euthanasia. My theory is that they were trying to get the individual to get off of the ground and they finished him off by accident.

Sick long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

Sick long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

Long-tailed tit 'attacking' sick individual, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Long-tailed tit 'attacking' sick individual, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Long-tailed tit 'attacking' sick individual, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Long-tailed tit 'attacking' sick individual, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Sick individual is dead, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Sick individual is dead, Christophstal Marsh 2024

Friday 8 March 2024
Fly TBI, Christophstal March 2024

Fly TBI, Christophstal March 2024

Fly TBI, Christophstal March 2024

Fly TBI, Christophstal March 2024

We have a lot of annoying little flies in the house at the moment. Most are just boring black things, but I spotted this one lying (dead) on the windowsill in my office. It was extremely small and there aren't a lot of distinguishing features (apart from the green metallic colouring and the long yellow legs). It could be a member of the Dolichopodidae family.

Tuesday 5 March 2024

A small group of long-tailed tits have been visiting us for several weeks now. Amongst the group is this one with an almost completely white head. Could this be a Northern long-tailed tit?

(Northern?) Long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

(Northern?) Long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

'Normal' long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

'Normal' long-tailed tit, Christophstal March 2024

Sunday 3 March 2024
Honeybee and crocus, Christophstal March 2024

Honeybee and crocus, Christophstal March 2024

There were a few honeybees and bumblebees flying around the garden today.

Saturday 2 March 2024

Our beautiful dwarf irises have flowered, although there are a lot fewer in our rock garden this year.

A blackbird was having a drink in our pond this morning - enjoying the fact that it isn't raining for once.

The nicer weather meant I could spend a bit of time with my camera in the garden. The snowdrops are very early this year and there are lots of insects exploiting the early pollen. I thought this hoverfly might be interesting as it is so early - it is a new species for the garden, Melangyna quadrimaculata.

There was a new bug record for the garden with this Rhyparochromus pini emerging from hibernation on the wooden side of our raised beds. According to my insect books (but not the internet), as the name suggests, this is a specialist pine-feeder, so it's no surprise to find it here.

I checked the pond for newts, but it's still a but early (and cold) for them. I did spot this cranefly larva hauling round a spectacular case.

Dwarf irises, Christophstal March 2024

Dwarf irises, Christophstal March 2024

Blackbird, Christophstal March 2024

Blackbird, Christophstal March 2024

Snowdrops, Christophstal March 2024

Snowdrops, Christophstal March 2024

<em>Melangyna quadrimaculata</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Melangyna quadrimaculata, Christophstal March 2024

<em>Rhyparochromus pini</em>, Christophstal March 2024

Rhyparochromus pini, Christophstal March 2024

Cranefly larva with case, Christophstal March 2024

Cranefly larva with case, Christophstal March 2024