Garden safari

Yesterday I defrosted and cleared out the freezer, and today I baked the first two batches of cupcakes for the forthcoming wedding - consequently, I've mostly been tied to the kitchen. 

I managed a quick trip round the garden with the camera today. Despite the frost a few days ago, the continuing mild weather means there are still a fair few insects around, including a large number of Harlequin Ladybirds, looking for hibernation sites.  

This fly was sitting on a leaf of our Himalayan Birch, which has recently turned a wonderful clear golden yellow. Pete thinks it's probably Dryomyza anilis. Apparently adults are found in moist, shady habits among low-growing vegetation, fungi, and excrement. That pretty well sums up that corner of the garden, which is shady and north-facing, includes a  pond, a group of Poison-pie fungi and is a favoured haunt of the local foxes! 

The extra shows a Banded Snail on the leaves of our Grape Vine, which are now wonderfully multicoloured.