Turtle summer

Turtle summer

The West Park turtle. Not doing very much other than resting on its log in the sun. But it rarely does very much other than resting on itsd log under the sun.

Generation (shield bugs)

Generation (shield bugs)

The first shield bug nymphs have started appearing, with this pair on a ripening raspberry. There seemed to be adults mating every day during this year’s long hot spring.

Slowly (or sloe-ly) ripening

Slowly (or sloe-ly) ripening

Sloes in teh Barley Field hedge, ripening. These were at shoulder level. When they are ripe, there will be a race between birds and gin drinkers to decide who gets the benefit.

Very hungry cinnabar moth caterpillar

Very hungry cinnabar moth caterpillar

Cinnabar moth caterpillar actively chomping away at a ragwort early one morning.. Some years, many ragowrks have several of these caterpillars eating them away. This year I have been carefully inspecting the plats I have come across: this is the only caterpillar I’ve spotted.

Shaggy parasol struggling to emerge

Shaggy parasol struggling to emerge

Shaggy parasols are normally one of our larger autumn mushrooms. Tghis one was struggling to grow in unpropitious circumstances, in the small patch of bare earth around one of the lime trees on the pavement edge of a main road into town.