I didn't manage any photographs at the hide this morning.  In the very poor light and rainy conditions, a Kingfisher did flash by and I was waiting for it to come back to the perches with a fish but it didn't happen even though I waited for 2 hours. It is particularly quiet for birds on the brook at the moment and in that 2 hour session the fleeting fly by of a KF was all that visited.  I  may be more lucky later this afternoon and as the light has improved that could be a possibility.  From the bathroom "hide" at home the garden was very busy this morning, a portent of things to come I hope. House Sparrows have done well locally  and there was a youngster being fed by it's parent in the cotoneaster bush which made for a very appealing photograph. Just for the record, we have had Blue Tits, Great Tits and Goldfinch in the garden today as well as Blackbirds (both sexes) and a Starling. Worth a mention because they are not even a fraction as common here in the West Country as they were formally. 

 
On Sunday last, I had a very good look for Hoverflies on the banks of the brook and discovered a smashing insect. I am fascinated by Hoverflies and even  when I say that to birders, I get some funny looks.   They can be very pretty and they come in over 250 varieties, that's the number of UK species (roughly). All of them imitate either wasps or bees and hover above plants to feed. They are fond of honeydew which is the sugary secretion from aphids. 

This species is Xanthgramma pedissequum, it looks very similar to a wasp and you can imagine being frightened by it if you didn't know better. This is the second time I have seen one. The last was in the garden last August.