Saturday, March 16, 2019

16/03/2019 The sun came out this afternoon and look what happened

Maximum temperature today 16C, minimum 8C.  5mm rain measured this morning; as I type this the sun has just come out.  15 km/h South-westerly winds with gusts up to 33 km/h.
The rain will be back tomorrow so the forecast says!!

Bee possibly Halictus scabiosae

Celandine weeds flowers with a tiny bug of maybe the bee family.

More Celandine, with a similar looking insect as in photo 1 but very much smaller.

Bee on the broccoli flowers.

As above.

Red admiral - (Vanessa atalanta). This was a big surprise I did not expect to see a butterfly...

It was on the viburnum tinus...

As above...

It posed so beautifully for me.

Fly on the Bellis perennis...

Also a fly I think but of a different species

Wasp - possibly one of the social wasps which I do not socialise with!



32 comments:

  1. Lots of insects to be sure. It is a bit if a surprise to see a Red Admiral so early, but I am not really familiar with its normal cycle in Europe, so perhaps not.

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    1. I saw a Red Admiral in February but that was when we had two weeks of warm weather and sun every day, Now it is cooler and very wet. I was lucky to notice it, I was just walking back to the house as the cold wind was making my eyes water when I saw a flash of red. Happy Sunday Diane

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  2. what lovely bees and butterflies and these flowers, really is like spring there Diane! Loveyours pictures!!

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    1. Gloria it is still not very warm with very cold winds, theis was just an exceptional afternoon after a cold morning.
      Hope all is well with you Diane

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  3. Looks like SPRING has really SPRUNG in your area. Very nice. Yep, not gotten bees or butterflies here yet. Our trees are just now blooming out and the birds have just started moving back in to the area. You pics are stunning.

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    1. It may look like it but it does not feel like it!! The earlier warm weather seems to have upset the drift of things and all are confused!! Our birds are here all winter mostly as they know there is plenty of food in out garden 🦉 Hope you are feeling better Diane

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  4. Amazing photos. That butterfly!
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks Amalia, it was a huge surprise to see it so early in the year. Have a good day, Diane

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  5. Your macros are always a pleasure to see Diane, it's looking a bit like spring in your garden 🌼 🐝

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    1. Thanks Grace now if only it felt like spring I would be happy, the winds are cold despite the higher temps and the sun peeking in from time time! Have a good week Diane

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  6. You hit the jackpot on small creatures. I have a hard time getting pictures of them because they are so fast.

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    1. They are generally fast I just have to be a bit faster 😉 Enjoy the coming week Diane

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  7. I love the way you highlight the littlest creatures!

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    1. I always try to find the very smallest but they are so hard to identify! Happy week Diane

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  8. Georgeus photos of nature, love it☺☺

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  9. You make me happy with your sunny photos today. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks Aritha, love it when there are plenty of bugs around to take photos of 😉 Hope all is well Diane

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  10. Wow, spring is there. Been warming up here more.

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    1. A very definite improvement this week thank goodness. Happy weekend Diane

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  11. Good to see the insects coming out to enjoy the flowers.

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    1. The insects know when the weather is improving, just hope it stays this way. Happy weekend Diane

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  12. It is lovely to enjoy the sunshine in your beautiful photos. Thanks Diane :)

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    1. Nice change not to have to wear layers of clothing 😉 Happy weekend Diane

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  13. Flowers and all look great, Diane! No signs of spring here yet in Chicago area though. Those bees sure look busy! Take care

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    1. Thanks Pam it really has been quite spring like the last few days, I only hope we do not go backwards!! Have a fab weeked Diane

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  14. Seems a little bit of good weather and everyone, including the bees, is happy!

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    1. We are certainly happier and hopefully the sun will remain for a while! Cheers Diane

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  15. Great shot of the bee's wings on the broccoli flowers.

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    1. Thnaks Pam, it is good to have the insects back again. Keep well Diane

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  16. Hi Diane. Sorry to be so late in getting to your blog. I've been somewhat tied up after 9 days away visiting the Isles of Scilly. At some point I've got to work through the more than four thousand photos I wook whilst there!

    It's great to see all the insect activity in your garden. Super photos which really herald the arrival of spring. Spring is sprung here too - 4 species of butterfly in the garden yesterday!

    With my very best wishes to you both. Take good care - - - Richard

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    1. Wow Richard - over 4000 photos I am impressed! I thought I took a lot but! That will keep you quiet for a while if nothing else 😊

      I am delighted to see the bugs back in the garden, but it also means we see less birds as they are not so interested in the feeder with other food around. I wish there was somewhere close by that I could go and sit in a hide, but there is nothing around that I know of. There is a place near La Rochelle, over a two-hour drive but in holiday season can take very much longer. The only other place I know is Arcachon also over 2 hours away and impossible in the holiday season.

      Hope you have a great weekend. Take care Diane

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