[Springlands]

Forgot about this one - has anyone noticed that there are not so many bats about this year or is it only me. I used to have them visit the garden on a regular basis but not this year. 

[Auntiemogs]

Mum's strawberries are gone (only the ripe ones) to be replaced by a yellow feather from one of the wild parrots. 

[rosiecider]

Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house

[Snoop]

Lovely photo, rosiecider.

[Goosegirl]

One of my cats caught a long-eared bat the other week which I was very sad about. Also, the other day I saw a huge dragon-fly skittering over the garden. I've seen the odd one before but never as big. At first, I thought it was a little bat because of the way it flew, but then I saw its wings. I couldn't see its body properly nor could I take a pic as it was too high up and wouldn't stay still long enough. My impression was that its body was brown because I couldn't see any large markings nor any irridescence on its wings. Any ideas as to what it was?

[RubyR3d]

Sounds like a brown hawker dragonfly. They live near lakes etc. We get the large blue emperor ones as well.

[Paul Plots]

Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house

Gorgeous... not seen one around here for well over a year. I think the increase in foxes may be partially to blame.

[Aled]

It made my day to see a small hedgehog at the bottom of the garden last Tuesday evening.
Cheers
Aled

[Springlands]

I am soooo jealous of these hog sightings. 

Lots of Cinnabar Moth Caterpillars on the ragwort near the beach and lots of frogs hiding in the undergrowth in the garden - they must be looking for the moisture. Still plenty of bees humming about the various plants and lots of flutterbys!!   

[Snoop]

A gecko stuck in a crack in the lid of one of my water butts. Freed. Last place seen: rushing under the sage pot.

A toad. OK, not really all that special, but I've been meaning to mention him before. I have one of those cheap plastic 28-cell trays with some onions growing in it in it in a cold frame. There's a toad who sits on top of the cells waiting for his daily watering. The first few times, he hopped off, but now he's used to me and obviously quite enjoys the shower. It is odd, though, because he sits on the surface, so he must get a very hot back in the sun, even though his underside is nice and cool. I know he can get out of the cold frame because a few weeks back, he was in a different cold frame that is far more difficult to get in and out of.

[RubyR3d]

I ate my first blackberry today. I also picked a few hazelnuts. Beautiful walk with the mutts. Out for an hour and a quarter and didn't see a soul. Just swift swallows and housemartins. Wild carrot yarrow greater knapweed. Heard yellowhammer and scolding squirrels. Bliss 

[Aled]

Four small lizards under one of the logs. I've left them in peace.
Cheers
Aled

[rosiecider]

Lovely photo, rosiecider.

Thank you he was late night had to stay up worried sick is this what having kids is like   

[rosiecider]

Harry bang on time for a spot of supper, dogs not impressed that their food keeps disappearing into the garden while they are in the house

Gorgeous... not seen one around here for well over a year. I think the increase in foxes may be partially to blame.

I live in a rural area rarely see a fox, judging by the amount of rabbits this year might have to import one from you

[JayG]

Just got back from an afternoon at Hardwick Hall and found a beetle-like insect crawling over my shirt - being far from an expert in bug ID and fearing it was a vine weevil I flicked it into the basin and put the plug in whilst I Gurgled bug pictures!

It was a Forest Bug, so I removed the plug, let it crawl out of the plughole and escorted it out of the window. 

Good old Gurgle - the power over life and death itself!