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with that wiggle thing cats do when they stalk something. Then the spring was released. The fox bolted forwards, right towards us as we stood transfixed in the kitchen. The squirrel was anything but fixed and dived through the fennel twigs, over the iris and up

wing-tip to wing-tip is striped orange and white and quite pretty under a lens.It had been spreading across Europe from its first discovery in Macedonia in the middle of the 20th century and arrived in the UK in Wimbledon in 2002. I first noticed

that within 10 days they will be back to their original rich emerald hue.The green shieldbug (Palomena prasina) is, of course, green, except that it isn't during winter. Nobody seems exactly sure what is going on, but they start to turn brownish purple

completely different foodplants. Butterflies in the spring emergence lay their eggs on holly and their caterpillars feed on the developing buds. When these insects reach adulthood in late-summer they lay their eggs on ivy flower buds. At least

for jumping or burrowing like similarly endowed insects, nor does it seem to use them in any peculiar mating ritual. And, as my finder asked, if only the males have fat legs what do we call the females?On the allotment, spring has arrived in the form of a

at the weekend. It was only when I was looking at the RSPB Homes for Wildlife website that I notice they advise not to use tap-water. Since the new ring-main was built through South London about 10 years ago, the chlorine levels in our drinking water have gone

. Hopefully to be caught by the beekeeper and introduced to a new hive or skep. In a good spring, when nectar and pollen are in glut, an early swarm in May or June would be a welcome increase to the keeper's holdings well worth that hay or spoon.April does

they hunted in packs, like wolves. Of course, each is hunting alone, but they often appear in numbers at this time of year, scurrying across bare ground in the spring sunshine.The ones running around my tulips are Pardosa, and although I can't decide exactly

their metabolism until next spring. Unfortunately, in the process of dying off the workers make one last attempt to satisfy their sweet tooth, and this is why they start paying close attention to cream teas and iced buns. It's no use me telling you to stop waving

on. Then today I found the large bone, obviously the remains of someone's Sunday roast, dumped under the bench up there. Squatters?Fox sightings have been down this last couple of years, and even the plaintive screaming in early spring seems to have