Hi, I've seen these two for the first time this year in my garden - both seem to be moving up from the south

This giant of a ladybird - think it must be a Harlequin


And I found a sleepy bee last week when it was cold and windy on my daughters climbing frame. Just got round to IDing it - and it turns out to be a tree bee - this is first time I've heard of it in yorkshire. Gave it some sugar water and it disappeared so I hope it flew away

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I saw a frog in my pond which suprised me as it is about 2ft high, still I was pleased to see it. Not a creature but I have a lovely water lily just coming into flower.

A pair of Linnets on the bird feeders (thistle and seed) and in the hedge.

I keep getting a sparrowhawk dropping in to eat his dinner!

A Goldcrest - very fleetingly but very exciting.

Lots of bees, which I hope are visiting because we have planted lavender, roses, scabious etc.

A hedgehog about a month or two ago which we hadnt seen before but then we removed a lot of old bushes and ivy growth and I havent seen him/her since.

I have seen about 4 birds flying together around the houses since yesterday, one landed in the pear tree in the garden backing onto ours.

Seems it was a male Redstart.

A really colourful little fella, hope he comes back again, so I can take a pic.

This wasn't him below but he looked just like that one.

I had a beautiful Jay in the backgarden. I often hear them when I am waiting at the local train station but never had one of these normally shy birds on the lawn.

This fellow turned up today.
I'm told he's a Great Diving Beetle. I couldn't get any closer to take the picture - he was too scary

This was sunbathing on my spuds yesterday

Yes, one of these.

Which probably means my spuds have got wireworm.

I've rediscovered a huge frog from previous years that I assumed had not made it to this year, living under a plate that I used to cover some bare soil till I can afford some large cobbles. Not sure what I'll do with the frog now, cause he can't stay put that near where the strimming is done!

I've also had more bees (thanks to the supermarket chives I split up and put everywhere) a bird of prey that I have yet to ID circling above the garden (figure that is what I keep hearing that sounds a bit like a peacock - been driving me nuts trying to work out what it was for over a year), and a hedgehog poo. I assume we therefore have a hedgehog somewhere that visits. Not sure where though, the garden is pretty much a fort around the boundaries!

Originally Posted by Rabidbun

I've also had more bees (thanks to the supermarket chives I split up and put everywhere) a bird of prey that I have yet to ID circling above the garden (figure that is what I keep hearing that sounds a bit like a peacock - been driving me nuts trying to work out what it was for over a year), and a hedgehog poo. I assume we therefore have a hedgehog somewhere that visits. Not sure where though, the garden is pretty much a fort around the boundaries!

You never know - it might be a peacock! I often thought I was going mad when I lived at my mums as I was sure I could hear a peacock - then one day it turned up on the driveway, someone nearby must have been keeping it as a pet I think

We've got some lovely big bumble bees nesting in a bird box. There must be loads and loads of them in there because there are always at least half a dozen waiting to go inside.

We've noticed that some of them seem to stand guard just inside the entrance, so we daren't try to see what's going on inside.

Originally Posted by Rabidbun

... a bird of prey that I have yet to ID circling above the garden (figure that is what I keep hearing that sounds a bit like a peacock - been driving me nuts trying to work out what it was for over a year),

Is it a Red Kite? They squeal a bit, but I'm not too sure it's the same as a peacock, it's a higher pitch.

There are some fantastic videos on Arkive, but I think the sounds are better on RSPB

Originally Posted by endymion

Is it a Red Kite? They squeal a bit, but I'm not too sure it's the same as a peacock, it's a higher pitch.

The easiest way to identify a red kite when flying overhead is by it's tail feathers,which when splayed form a V.