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David

Resting on a buddleia leaf: comma butterfly

Resting on a buddleia leaf: comma butterfly

Buddleia, also known as a butterfly bush because it attracts butterflies. But this is normally for their flowers, not to rest on theleaves like this comma.

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David

Buddleia flowers, a close view

Buddleia flowers, a close view

A closer view than usual of the tiny florets on a buddleia.

Buddleia flowers, a close view
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David

More red soldier beetles on yarrow flowers

More red soldier beetles on yarrow flowers

I don’t know if it’s the places I went walking last month, but the red soldier beetles seemed to all be on yarrow flowers this year.

This plant had attracted several when I passed. One pair were clasped together, mating. I couldn’t count just how many more there were. Some were grazing on the flower. Others were appearing briefly as they walked along the flower’s lower side.

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David

Ripening sloely

Ripening sloely

Already a month ago, when these pictures were taken, the sloes on the blackthorn hedge in the Barley Field had filled out and were on the path to ripening.

Ripening sloely

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David

Dirty beak blackbird

Dirty beak blackbird

Blackbird with a dirty beak, from probing the soil for things to eat.

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David

Green to red: viburnum berries start to ripen

green to red: viburnum berries start to ripen

Bunches of viburnum (guelder rose) berries (or fruit or whatever they are) starting to turn from green to red about a month ago.

green to red: viburnum berries start to ripen