David

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

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.

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.

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

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

A green shield bug taking a brief rest on the leaf of a bay bush. Both the texture and the predominant colour of the upper surface of the buglooked like an excellent match to those of the leaf it was standing on.