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; they scavenge in wasp nests and eat all the left-over bits of dead insects brought back by the wasps to feed their own brood.Volucella zonaria is now well established, at least in southern England. The same, or another one, came back later to buzz lazily around

one carefully constructed from one cut-out circle of foliage. Inside will have been eggs laid by the leafcutter bee, along with a store of nectar and pollen for the emerging grubs to feed on (we didn't dare look in case we disturbed them).We carefully

.Its English name is the gorse shieldbug, and far from attacking garden plants, it focuses its attention on gorse. As far as I know there is no gorse anywhere in gardens hereabouts, but there's a small broom at the front of our house. It will also feed on other

and parasites.For the first few weeks they must forage alone, feeding the first batch of grubs through to maturity. If the queen dies, eaten by a bird, caught by mould, or trodden underfoot as she struggles to get airborne one cool March morning, the colony

. Of course, when I took it down to the kitchen and forced it to sit on a large leaf, it refused to adopt a picturesque position.It has a delicate jaunty flutter, hopping this way, then that, through the air. According to my guides the caterpillars feed

the day either, as temperatures struggle to get above zero!Feeders are replenished with seed and nuts as levels drop, ensuring there is a good supply of these 'high energy' feeds for the many blue tits, great tits, sparrows and starlings actively pecking

I can see strange things from the patio decking today: five grey herons, a swathe of spotted redshanks, curlews by the dozen, three little egrets (with their yellow rubber-glove feed), four or five cattle egrets, a couple of grebe-like things way

there are not too many shotguns in East Dulwich. Not this end of it anyway.Apart from its missing tail, it seems as active and healthy as the others. In fact, it's even more inquisitive than the others because the neighbours, having taken pity on it, regularly feed

Winter wildlifeMost garden wildlife hibernates over winter, as food is in short supply and freezing temperatures make life difficult. Learn how to help wild creatures through the cold winter months, below.In winter, wild animals and insects hunker

Birds love fat cakes and at this time of year they are just what they need to give them energy and keep warm. But the feeding balls needn't be shop bought; you can use all sorts of kitchen scraps such as cheese and dry porridge oats. Just mix