Author: David

Among the wildflowers growing by the pond in Compton Park, some ox-eye daisies. Like most of the flora in this wetland area, originally planted when the pond was created a decade of so back, but now successfully spreading by themselves.

I’d spotted the first tiger moth on the brickwork quite early in the morning. By the afternoon, there were two tiger moths. Yes, they’re mating.

They stayed in that position for a long time: several hours.

A coot chick on West Park lake, calling loudly, trying to attract the attention of one of its parents. For once, the trick wasn’t working.

The colours are so bright and contrasty that this scarlet tiger moth could almost be taken for a butterfly from some tropical rainforest, rather than a European day-flying moth.

A Canada goose from the West Park flock stands on one foot on a narrow fallen log, twisting its neck so that its beak probes the feathers at the base of one if its wings as it preens.

Flowers on an elder growing right by the boardwalk across the Compton Park pond. Those flowers which opened earlies had already moved on, and the first stages of the formation of elderberries can be seen.