Merveille du Jour. Photo by naturalhistoryman (Creative Commons)Though you might associate moths with warm summer nights, they're still out and about! Look out for some special autumn moths like the merveille du jour around lights and on walls. We've seen quite a few this week at The Lodge, but keep an eye out back at home, too.

You might also spot lots of ladybirds in the gardens. Take a careful look, because although some will be the familiar seven-spot ladybird, there'll also be lots of the alien harlequin species - accidentally introduced from Asia. Time will tell, but they may pose a serious threat to our native species. Have a look at the ladybird survey website to find out more.

Other interesting wildlife sightings this week have included a stoat climbing up a massive pine tree, two jackdaws fighting and tumbling through the air together, and skylarks calling overhead as they migrate.

A party of crossbills was seen in the pine trees in the quarry car park - listen for their 'chup, chup' calls. On Sandy Warren, near the new trail, flocks of redwings and fieldfares have been seen looking for bugs and worms to eat.

It's not too late to see butterflies and dragonflies, even in late October... a southern hawker was seen around Jack's pond and common darters are still hunting and mating in the gardens. Painted lady, comma, peacock, speckled wood and red admiral butterflies are on the loose, tracking down those precious nectar-giving flowers. Ivy is popular with lots of insects, especially bees and wasps.

We're looking forward to meeting lots of you at our Feed the Birds Day event tomorrow!