Beavers and (Shield) Bugs

The Beaver Scouts left Northallerton in a hailstone storm but arrived at a dry Foxglove Covert.  Due to the cold, wet weather they were warned that they may not see very much - how wrong we were!  On the habitat walk they saw Alderflies, Orange Tip Butterflies, 7 Spot and Kidney Spot Ladybirds, greenfly and shield bugs.  Bug hunting revealed the usual large number of slugs but centipede, millipede, woodlice, earthworms and Ground Beetles were all recorded.  In the ponds tadpoles and 3 Spined Sticklebacks were caught and a newt spotted.

Visitors enjoyed walking around without getting wet, seeing the spring flowers covering the reserve and listening to the bird songs.

Bird Cherry has been in leaf for some time and is being attacked by insects.  In the last few days the flower buds have burst and the white blossom is showing amongst the bright green leaves.

The shield bugs are beginning to emerge from hibernation.  Identification appears to be very easy when the reference books are consulted but the photographs that we take somehow do not always look like those in the books!  So this is a shield bug on a Raspberry leaf.  Identification may follow!!