David

Heron on one of the regular West Park perches, a willow on one of the islands in the lake.

The tree was blown over by winter gales a long time ago, but seemed to continue to thrive. This year, for the first time, it has only put out a little foliage.

Very few butterflies have been on the buddleia flowers this year; indeed there don’t seem to be very many around at all.

Large whites have been the most frequent of those visiting to feed.

A bee gathering pollen flor a bramble flower. The soft-focus effect is because a cheap supplementary lens, sometimes called a close-up filter, was used to magnify the subjects.

Turbulence in the water right by the shore of West Park lake, early one warm July morning. Caused by a few of the carp threshing their tails very vigorously. I think this must have been after-effects, the day after the carp had had their annual spawning.

A Sunday morning in the middle of July. I got to West Park early, before anyone had come to feed the birds on the lake; probably before there had been any huiman disturbance by the lake that day yet.

The swan pair with this year’s cygnets were well out towards one of the islands, not doing much apart from a bit of preening. When I stopped to take pictures, they didn’t seem to take any notice.

I moved a short way round the lake to get pictures from a different angle. Now the swans did notice me, and started heading in my direction. I got off a few shots, then left so they wouldn’t waste too much energy in the hope I was going to give them some bread.

Some are still buds, with the highest flowers just beginning to open. Ragworts have now had their flowering season, but this was one plant as that season was starting early last month.