David

The false oxlip is a cross between a cowslip and a primrose, which were blooming in abundance near to where this picture was taken.

To untrained eyes like mine, the plant looks like an oxlip. But that is much rarer, and in Britain it grows wild only in small areas of East Anglia.

A bee comes to rest on an earthen bank. The veins can be seen in its semi-transparent wings.

Like the comma and tortoiseshell in the past two days posts, this peacock was making the most of the sun on April 13th.

At least a dozen different individuals, including examples from all three species, were on a single five-yard stretch of embankment by the towpath of the Staffs and Worcs canal at the back of Aldersley stadium.

These catkins are a strong reddish-purplish colour – tending more to purple when they are knocked to the ground in strong winds then crushed.

This plant is a weed to gardeners.

The flower is tiny – just a couple of millimetres across. To the right of the flower there is an even smaller insect or spider (click on the picture to go to Flickr to see this more clearly on a larger version).

This butterfly was resting and warming itself on a sunny bank just feet from the tortoiseshell which featured in yesterday’s post.

This bee was busy collecting nectar from the gorse flowers. The gorse bloom is now well advanced.

These toads were already locked in a nuptial embrace as they crawled across the main path through Baggeridge Park on the way to find a pool to lay their spawn.

The male is noticeably smaller than the female, who is swollen with the eggs.

The warmer weather of the middle of April has brought the flowers on a great deal. It has also prompted the emergence of insects such as butterflies and bees which rely on flowers for food.