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David

Pond skaters, Wetland Pool

Pond skater

Pond skaters rush around the surface of still water with their middle and rear legs supported by surface tension. Look closely to see small indentations in the water surface under their legs.

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David

Water boatmen, Wetland Pool

Water boatman, Wetland Pool

Water boatman, a common water insect, rushes round the surface of still water lying on its back and using its large rear legs as oars. Nowadays often called by the American name of backswimmer to distinguish them from an unrelated insect which swims on its front.

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David

Hornbeam seeds, unripe

Hornbeam seeds, unripe

Hornbeams have winged seeds, designed to be dispersed from the parent tree by the wind. These seeds, as yet unripe, are hanging down in a bunch from the end of a twig.

Hornbeam seeds, unripe

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David

Swallow stave

Swallow stave

Swallows strung out on telephone wires like notes on a musical stave, with most of the birds stretching out a wing. They may be this year’s chicks, getting ready for their first long flight on the migration to the southern hemisphere.

Swallow stave

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David

Web on wheat

Web on wheat

Web spun between the ears of several wheat plants, resembling a discarded veil. A large, possibly female, spider could be made out in the densest part of the web.

Web on wheat

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David

Red eyes, green body

Red eyes, green body

Fly resting on a leaf, the red of its eyes contrasting with the metallic-seeming reflective green of its thorax and abdomen