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David

Purple loosestrife in full flower

Purple loosestrife in full flower

Purple loosestrife flowering. Look out for it at the edge of water: here the pool in Compton Park.

Purple loosestrife in full flower

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David

Male common darter on decking today

Male common darter on decking today

Male common dater dragonfly at lunchtime today. It was on one of its favourite positions, on guard and on display on the decking of the Compton Park pool.

The tip of its left forewing is missing – probably lost fighting off another male trying to take over its territory.

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David

Gatekeeper butterfly on ragwort flowers

Gatekeeper butterfly on ragwort flowers

Gatekeeper butterfly (sometimes called hedge brown) busy feeding on the flowers of a ragwort growing by the canal towpath at Wightwick.

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David

Butterfly lavender flower

Butterfly lavender flower

The fat flowerhead topped by the twin petal “wings” of a butterfly lavender flower, in recent years a common sight in gardens.

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David

Two young West Park magpies, one scruffy, one with crossed bill

Scruffy young magpie, West Park

Two young magpies in West Park, often together (as when these pictures were taken) and perhaps one from the same brood.

One seems to have feathers which are always dishevelled. The other has a bill with a crossed tip.

Cross-billed young magpie, West Park

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David

Cluster of feverfew flowers

Cluster of feverfew flowers

Small cluster of the daisy-like flowers of a feverfew. The plant was, and still is, used as a herbal remedy for migraine.