Yellow Legged bee-grabber - Conops Flavipes

 What a name! What a beautiful fly - another garden first!

Bombus Lucorum or Bombus Jonellus

A bit stumped with this bee - initially thought Hortorum but then got an expert to look at it and the jury is out on Lucorum or Jonellus - in this area Jonellus incredibly rare so need to go refind one and try capture it - a job for Wayne I think😂 - here’s all the images I took comments welcome

Two from the Burnet family

Totally different to look at but both in same family

Six-spot Burnet Moth and Forester Moth both day time flying beautiful moths

Essex Skippers, Graylings and others ..

Two not so common butterflies in N Lincs from the weekend - the first one hard to see I know but there is a Grayling in this image - 10 in total seen

And Essex Skippers (black tips under the antennae rather than brown as in Small Skipper)

We also had around 300 Ringlets

Plus probably the most exciting fly I have seen - member of Thick Headed Fly family (I kid you not)
Sicus Ferrugineus (probably Im told)

Planting up the new pond

Had a very kind delivery of one of my favourite plants today (many thanks Jim and Sharon!) four beautiful Himalayan Cowslip - they are so fragrant and were immediately visited by various Hoverflies.  We have also added some Water Forget-me-not which will hopefully be covered in newt eggs next spring - excitingly 3 Water Beetles have colonised the pond

The new pond is finished

Just need to get a few plants in and wait for the newts!

A second garden pond!

Not content with one garden pond, Wayne has decided our newts need a second one in the front garden this time!

Lots of landscaping required now ...

Unexpected Nightjar

Another stunning bird during lockdown very close to home - very rarely seen during daylight hours so an absolute treat to see.

Normanby's VE day celebrations under lockdown!

Yesterday, our nation came together, even though forced apart by the lockdown to remember the end of the war in Europe and mark 75 years sine VE Day.We are extremely lucky to live in a small corner of North Lincs where we have found such lovely and supportive neighbours aka friends!  So after marking two minutes silence at 11.00am we socially distance ourselves  (until 9.00pm!!)  around our homes and celebrated with many bottles of Prosecco, Beer, G&T's, Whiskey, Ginger Wine, Cakes and the great British standby fish and chips - a fabulous day which I doubt had it not been for the virus would not have taken place.

The Queen I think accurately hit the mark when she said, "our streets are not empty, they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other".

So without further a do here's our cast;

Sue and Martin 

Sheila starting as she means to go on!

Doing a marvellous impression of the Queen - Barbra

Sheila (again)

 Alex, Lucas, Mechelle and Paul

Jean, Deirdre and Norma

 Sarah and Pam

 Ray of sunshine - Mechelle

Sarah (again)

Martin, Alexander, Heather and Christine

Wayne with an unfortunately named bottle of beer

 Martin (again)

 Pam

Yvonne and Richard

Mechelle - what can I say the whole day wouldn't have happened without her and she even managed to get a delivery of socially distance fish and chips!