Tortoiseshell Butterfly

A queen bumble bee, probably buff tailed, visited our garden briefly.

A small tortoiseshell butterfly visited our garden several times during the day - settling on the Hebe.

I have seen red admiral butterflies on a few occasions this year, but this is the first tortoiseshell.

Frog spawn and bees

A few frogs have returned to our pond. I have heard croaking at night the last few days

Some come from further afield and it is probably the frogs that stay in  our garden all year round that have arrived first. 

The first clump of spawn appeared this morning.

The first bee in our garden this year, a honey bee visiting the crocus on our rockery.