A little bit of sunshine among the showers

Hoverfly on
Smooth Catsear
(hypochaeris glabra)

2-spot ladybird

2-spot ladybird
(Adalia bipunctata)

There are 42 species of ladybird resident in the British Isles and this is one type of 2-spot ladybird (although it seems to have more than 2 spots at first glance, only 2 of the markings are spots!)
Gardeners' friends, ladybirds feed on aphids and other garden pests.

Birds seen: Great tit, dunnock, woodpigeon

Small Magpie moth
eurrhypara hortulata
I saw this one flying and followed it to where it settled underneath a leaf - no wonder I haven't noticed them before.

Unidentified caterpillar

Haven't been able to identify this one yet.



Birds seen: Long-tailed tits (1 feeding young), Blue tit, Woodpigeon

Persistence pays off

I've been stalking these moths, trying to get a better picture, and I think I've succeeded

Speckled bush cricket

Leptophyes punctatissima

A real example of how macro photography brings you closer to nature. This little creature looked pure green to the naked eye, but is so much more fascinating in close-up. The speckles even extend to his antennae!

The Beginning

I have decided to document the wildlife in my garden, in Clewer, Windsor, Berks, UK.








Pyrausta purpuralis



This day moth is about the size of my thumb nail and loves the thyme and marjoram outside our kitchen. Clouds of them flit round the herbs, basking briefly, but rarely long enough to photograph.

Birds seen: Robin, Blue tit, Ring-necked parakeet