Bellflowers

Nettle leafed bellflowers

Nettle leaved bellflowers clustering around the stem of a wild plant growing opposite the Wildside Activity Centre.

Canterbury bell flower in a garden

A Canterbury bellflower (plus small insect) seen while passing a front garden.

Common darter on the wing

Common darter on the wing

Male common darter dragonfly patrolling its territory over one lobe of the new pool at Compton Park.

Common darter on the wing

A resting female of the same species featured as one of yesterday’s posts.

Pink yarrow flowers

Pink yarrow

Yarrow flowering pink rather than the more normal white. Although these were in the wildflower area of Bantock Park, they may have been an escapee cultivated variety.

Pink yarrow

Female common darter

Female common darter

My favourite way to watch wildlife is in the outdoors section of a pub, with a nice pint in front of me.

This common dater landed on the edge of the car park of the Combermere Arms, not far from the table where I was sitting. It stayed long enough for me to get my camera out and fire off a few shots. It then flew off, circled the car park several times, before landing in the same sunny spot for another few minutes.

Female common darter

Common darters are small and common (duh) British dragonflies. This one was a female: the males are redder.

Burdock flowers with tiny snail

Burdock flower with tiny snail

Burdock flowers beginning to open, with a tiny snail hanging on. A red-eyed fly also seems to be after a share of whatever is on offer.

Snails mating

Lurid bolete

Pair of humbug snails mating on a plastic garden table on the morning after a rainy night.