20 May 2025 (Tuesday)

​I’m up before Richard, in that period where things swing around for an unknown time and I’m up first and making tea.


The day is another sunny, dry one.  Work work at my desk in the morning, lunch, further work work and then to the plot to do watering - I need to give things a good watering, right across the plot.  The forecast is for the weather to change, though when I look at the bone dry paths, I wonder when… we haven’t had any decent rain for months.

I’ve had an informative reply from the British Trust for Ornithology re the magpies potentially (definitely!) feeding on the ladybirds who themselves are feeding on the aphids of our broad beans:

“Thanks for your interesting email. I am afraid it is quite possible that your Magpies are responsible for the disappearance of the ladybirds! 

Magpies are extreme generalists, by which I mean that they will eat whatever they can most easily find and access at any given time, rather than seeking out particular types of food. We know from dietary studies that invertebrates form the major component of the diet of Magpies during the breeding season, and that beetles (Coleoptera) are among the most important insect groups within their diet. Ladybirds are, of course, a type of beetle. They have specifically evolved adaptations to discourage birds from eating them, but they are nonetheless eaten by some birds (for example, one study showed them to be a major component in the diet of Tree Sparrows). I have not found any studies that specifically report consumption of ladybirds by Magpies, but on the balance of evidence I think it would be very possible that they would be eaten, given the chance.

Fingers crossed the ladybird larvae do indeed develop - the larvae are themselves voracious predators of aphids so I'm sure they will still be doing some good, even with the adults now gone!”

So now we know, and as if to prove a point I video one when I am down looking for ladybirds on the broad beans. And not finding many as it has eaten most already!

Back home, and stuff to do, and a bath.

Richard’s making supper, a vegan cauli cheese!



Weather:  Warm and sunny from the off.

Breakfast:  Bran Sticks, yogurt, sultanas and banana
Lunch:  Lidl demi-baguette, quorn ham, lettuce, mustard for Richard, plus cucumber and radish
Supper:  Vegan Cauli Cheese using his Yeast Flakes Sauce, and I steam some frozen broad beans, green beans and peas in the microwave