Category Archives: Lockdown Diary

Maggie is a genuine arachnophobic. She isn’t just scared of spiders but completely freaks out at there sight… its not a joke. She can bare to see spiders out of doors although she certainly doesn’t like them… but ‘trapped’ indoors … Continue reading →

Thanks once more to my bee-friend I now know what these bees are… its a bit shameful really as a closer inspection of the picture would have made two things obvious… Firstly, they fact they are collecting pollen on their … Continue reading →

I was watering the garden early last evening when something big and black landed on my hand! I reacted via adrenalin rather than thought and shook it off fast. The large black bee spun away from me through the water … Continue reading →

Maggie took these pictures, fascinated by watching this mother depositing eggs beneath a nasturtium leaf… the first time she had witnessed this. You can just make out the yellow eggs. I don’t know if the aphids will out compete the … Continue reading →

In desperation, when no nurseries had stock or mail order I bought some seeds, which came from somewhere in Eastern Europe. I’ve already blogged about the red pepper seeds that turned out to be radishes. Well the plant below was … Continue reading →

The first of these Syrphidae I’ve seen, or rather noticed, since 2014 and our thirteenth species this year. Seeking information, I’ve found their habitat is unimproved grassland and urban wasteland… which may be a comment on my garden! Later I … Continue reading →

With better weather forecast we set off for a bit of socially-distanced birding at Oare Nature Reserve… on the day that its managers, KWT, announced an exciting re-wildling project at Blean Woods. Oare was far less crowded than we had … Continue reading →

Anyone who has been in a bird race or who keeps a year list will know that once you’ve waited ages to see a particular bird, as soon as you do you see lots more. Turns out it’s the same … Continue reading →

Whilst I have been interested in, and observed hoverflies since c.2013, it is only this year that the interest has deepened as lockdown drastically reduced my nature watching options. Inevitably, as interest broadens so does enjoyment and knowledge. So a … Continue reading →

Still shielding, but stir crazy we went for a drive around Sandwich finding a couple of quiet rural corners to loaf around in nature. At the Restharrow reserve the disabled parking has been newly doubled in size and the surrounding … Continue reading →