David

A robin anting: spread its its feathers as widely as possible as possible, then pressing down hard on the ground so that ants can get at it. Thought to be a method of getting rid of small parasites or of grooming the feathers.

This robin chose to do it, at least twice, on ground with few if any ants.

Teazles in the wildflower area around the Compton Park pond. Every summer since the water feature was created, there are a few more teazles. And every summer they seem to reach a little higher as they flower.

In a summer where there seem to be less insects about than ever, common red soldier beetles have been living up to the first word of their name.

These were striding around over the flowers on a patch of ragwort, pausing frequently to eat.

Pictures taken with over a week of July still to come, and already these haws on one of the Barley Field bushes were beginning to fatten and getting redder.

Thistle flower with a red spotted parasite fly (Eriothrix rufomaculata) disappearing over the opposite edge.

The adult fly is vegetarian. It’s the juvenile stage which parasites on some other insects.

Some of the flowers on a single ragwort plant. in these close views, the yellow of the petals dominates.