David

Yarrow flowers seem to be particularly attractive to common red soldier beetles this year. This one was busy grazing, walking across the flower while feeding.

A roadside sow thistle as some of the flowers had begun to turn to seed.

Snail, possibly a Pfeiffer’s amber-snail (Oxyloma elegans) slowly, slooowly crawling higher along one of the bulrush leaves in Compton Park pond.

Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra), yet another of the wildflowers which has been encouraged in teh wetland area around the Compton Park pond.

There’s a tiny insect of some sort visiting the flower too.

Two magpies in West Park, prospecting for food in one of the areas where people leave peanuts in the grass for squirrels. I’m guessing they were young birds from their lack of caution near the busy footpath.

The pods are a sign that brooms are related to the likes of peas and beans. The hairs will discourage animals from eating them, with their doubtless tender and fleshy seeds inside.