Have you discovered any new creatures in your garden this year?

[Helgalush]

Lots and lots of ladybirds, including a white one (14-spot), 2-spot, about 12 or so 7-spot and one harlequin which was a while ago and hasnt been seen since.

I also have lots of hoverflies, and bumble bees and honey bees (at least I think thats what they are) all over my borage and lavender plants.

Every time I see a new ladybird I get really really excited!!

[gardenpassion]

We have a huge hedgehog, I love watching him/her snuffle around. I was very surprised at how fast they can move when they finally spot you staring at them!!

[elleme]

Nothing I haven't seen before yet for this year, but last summer I spotted a large cricket which wandered through the grass then settled on some Iris foetidissima for long enough for me to get a photo. I ID'd it as a Roesel's Bush Cricket. I've seen small cricket/grasshopper type critters before but nothing that big or with a positive identification.

[jacob marley]

I know it is not in the garden but is flying over well diving after prey Peregrine Falcon the second time in two years what a sight wow. jacob

[briggsy2011]

My new kitten who we have let out for the first time, she wernt mad round my beds, then weed in my strawberry bed lol

[GardenFaery]

I usually get a variety of butterflies, but saw one yesterday that LOOKED like a red admiral, but wasn't because instead of black markings with red, had lighter purpler ones? Sorry didn't get chance to get pick of it!

[Vince G]

We have some very invasive ivy which is growing over our back fence and next doors garage. I keep it trimmed back on our side so we can actually get in the back gate. Was sitting watching the tv yesterday afternoon and a bird caught my eye, greyish-brown and flitting about a bit like a tit. So went and got my binoculars and sat looking out of the back window for it to re-appear. After a while, it popped out of the ivy again, and I got a clear view of .......a blackcap. Then Mrs blackcap popped out too, bit of a mis-nomer as her cap is rusty brown. Being a bit of a birder, the lack of birds in our tiny suburban garden has always been a source of disappointment, so to see these two was a real treat. They're actually not especially rare, but it's the first time I've ever seen one. They are presumably nesting in the ivy - just got to watch next door's cat doesn't get them. Saw the damn thing swat a blackbird the other day, it got away in a shower of feathers - I HATE cats!!!

[TallGirl]

We have loads of slow worms at the lottie, loving the warmth of the manure heap. babies and everyfink!!

Wowwww!!! They eat slugs don't they?

[Dynamo]

Quote Originally Posted by Munch View Post
We have loads of slow worms at the lottie, loving the warmth of the manure heap. babies and everyfink!!

Wowwww!!! They eat slugs don't they?

Aye.


We usually get only Starlings, Blackbirds, Sparrows and an occasional Thrush in our garden. We used to get Blue Tits but haven't seen any here for a number of years. Last year though after I put up a Nyjer Seed feeder we started getting a pair of Goldfinches. They disappeared half way through last summer, but have made an occasional appearance again this spring. On top of that, we've been visted by a Chaffinch and a Greenfinch in the last couple of weeks.

[petal]

Not new but one of the house martins is back- minus a tail!!! very tatty indeed.

[jono83]

That looks very much like a maybug to me, check it out here perhaps im wrong,
May Bug
ATB Jono

Sorry this was meant to be in reply to Sylvan's Great Diving Beetle

[rustylady]

Starlings are back, also a woodpigeon, the resident blackbirds are very much in evidence, as are the starlings. Newest visitor is a very handsome chaffinch.

[GardenFaery]

Saw a beige/cream and brown butterfly (think it was butterfly rather than moth) in garden this morning.. any ideas what it might be - sorry no pic as phone camera not liking computer at present

[Thelma Sanders]

I never saw the critter that left it but when I moved the bit of tarp that covers the greenhouse path there was a (snake?) skin under it - from a slow worm I suppose?

The cat found a frog in the long grass, (it escaped ) now I have a good excuse not to cut it in a hurry

[GardenFaery]

Think it was this: A speckled Wood butterfly... but when I saw it, it seems to have more cream than brown?... hmmm