David

Male blackbird among the thick vegetation around the edge of the pond at Bantock Park. Traces of soil on his beak show traces of his efforts to probe the soft ground of the shoreline for creatures to eat, or perhaps to take back to the nest.

I think these coot chicks are from the first brood to hatch in West Park this year. If so, they’ve grown big enough to make forays half way round the island.

They’ve also grown big enough to forage for some of their own food, while still able to persuade the parents to feed them almost continually.

If it is the same chicks, the numbers, sadly, have fallen from five to two or perhaps three despite the parents’ efforts.

More from Bantock Park. The pool, which really is tidy. Surely, back in the days when the land was a working farm, the pond must have been bigger than this?

Whatever, these pictures were taken a couple of weeks abo when the marsh marigold flowers were about at their best.

One of the tulips in the Dutch Garden at Bantock House. The petals all fallen as the seeds begin to ripen. To me, the plant looks as attractive as it did when it was in flower, despite being a lot less showy.

When this year’s alkanet plants were still fresh, and probably with leaves which were still soft and tender, several scarlet tiger moth caterpillars had been grazing on them. They grew large and fat, then disappeared, and are hopefully now pupating to emerge as moths, perhaps later in the summer.

After what seemed to be quite a long gap, another small one, seen here, appeared. It, too, is now grazing on the alkanet leaves.

The formal Dutch Garden at Bantock Park, looking towards the back of Bantock House. The garden is overlooked by the outdoor seating of the café which is now in the former barn and stables of the one-time farm.