Grey Partridges

This week I have seen a couple of Grey Partridge Perdix perdix in or adjacent to our fields. We regularly get Red-legged Partridge, but I don't really regard them as 'proper' birds. They are probably released for shoots, like all the influx of dozy pheasants we get each year.

I saw a couple of Grey Partridge when we first moved here. These are the first ones since then. Hopefully they will hang around. The species is undergoing serious declines in numbers and distribution. So any birds are good news!

Today we also had a nice male Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula eating the buds in the Blackthorn hedge along our front garden. Always nice to see.

On the insect front, there are a few Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis about. Not sure if this is something to celebrate or not!

More anon...

Insects at a Theme Park

On Sunday 30th March, we Tom decided to go to Bewilderwood in the Norfolk Broads for his belated Birthday treat.
This is an 'eco-friendly' theme park in a wood and bog complex. It is based around a theme of some imaginary creatures called 'Boggles' and 'Twiggles' and their adventures. The website is at http://www.bewilderwood.co.uk/. It is not too bad as theme Parks go. The food is pretty good - makes a change!
The weather was much better than it had been the previous week. In fact it was so nice that numerous insects were about. There were at least 5 species of Ladybird - 7-spot, 10-spot, Larch, Pine and Eyed. Also several Brimstone and Peacock butterflies.
Lots of stoneflies were flying. I decided they were Nemoura cinerea. Unfortunately, we did not take a camera.

Some insects for a change

The children are rennovating their playhouse in the vegetable patch. At the weekend they found conglomerations of Harlequin Ladybirds Harmonia axyridis. They were obviously overwintering. Further information on this species and its invasion of Britain can be found at http://www.harlequin-survey.org/.
Also in the playhouse were some overwintering Lacewings.