Post here if you see anything unusual

Hi, I don;t know if this is unusual but I have seen a number of ladybirds today that seem to have far more spots than the norm. 9 /10 on each side. I seem to remember reading somewhere that native ladybirds were endangered by an aggressive foreign variety. Have I got that right and are mine normal?

We spotted one today (pun unintended). Harlequin Ladybird? It looked an orange colour and had about 10 spots.

I think they came over to the UK 2 or 3 years ago. Of Asian origin, but were imported to the Benelux countries, France, etc as pest control - they've got out of control.

Perhaps someone has more information?

thanks for your quick reply, yes, this is an orangey colour and look smaller than our native ones. Are we supposed to try to eliminate them do you know? Hopefully someone with some knowledge will pop in and tell us.

There is a nationwide survey being conducted by a number of groups including Cambridge University. You can find out more about this and the Harlequin Ladybird by following the link:

http://www.harlequin-survey.org/

You can see pictures of the different Harlequin species, and report your sighting by filling out a simple form. It's a good site for more information.



Picture of H.axyridis succinea reproduced by permission of: www.harlequin-survey.org Photography by: Mike Majerus.

thanks cotton bud, I've visited the site and filled in the on line registration form. Iy seems thay are quite common now in east anglia. There are some black ones with just one big spot on each side which I will have to look out for as I'm sure I've seen that one in my garden too this year.

On Nov 4th, I saw a small flock of Long Tailed Tits in Monks Meadow and there was a Bullfinch on my garden feeder eating black sunflower seeds (locally grown). It was the first Bullfinch I've ever seen in Crowland. What a treat.

Wow. I've never seen a Bullfinch before - you lucky person. Good to hear about the Long Tailed Tits too.

Today, the garden appears to be much busier: the squirrels are racing around after each other. Robins, Great Tits, our group of young Blackbirds and our Green Woodpecker is back, seen drilling our lawns for ants.

It's a beautiful bird, about the size of a Jackdaw I would guess - crow size. Apart from the stiking red cap on its head and the green underside, its beak often looks like it's too big

I tried to get some pictures, but my lens is just not long enough

Last Thursday as I was driving out torwards Wisbech I came across two large brown birds of prey sitting in a ploughed field close to Thorny Rugby Club (possibly Buzzards) and then to my surprise, whilst travelling on the Thorny bypass, there sat a large black bird of prey on the edge of a ditch.

Coming back from Wisbech an hour later and the black bird of prey was still sitting on the same spot!

On the subject of unusual sightings over the years I have seen some surprises:

Two Eagle Owls at large on the Fen out near March

And only earlier this year a Hen Harrier flew across the road in front of me whilst driving out of Spalding torwards Crowland.

I had a chat with Nicholas Watts, of Vine Farm Deeping St Nick, and he has had nesting Hen Harriers on his land for at least the last ten years!

For a couple of years I kept seeing a black Australian Swan on the Welland but I've not seen that bird for at least two years.

And finally two years ago a male Bittern was booming on the Wildlife Trust reserve at Deeping. To hear one of these birds calling is amazing!

It never ceases to amaze me what is lurking around the area.


Lion Andy

I walk my dog over on Coronation Bank in Crowland, along the green wheel cycle path and earlier this year saw a lovely barn owl sitting on the fence. Since then I have seen it several times. Imagine my shock when just two weeks ago I realised this lovely owl is now deceased as I came across part of it on the cycle path. It had obviously been attacked by something. Could it be the birds of prey that were sighted? I have seen what I believe to be a sparrow hawk around the cycle path but not sure if this would attack an owl as it did not look to be a large bird of prey. All I know is my pleasure at looking out for the owl on my daily walks has now been taken away. I would love to be proved wrong so if anyone does spot the owl to prove me wrong, please reply and cheer me up.