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David

Speckled wood resting on a hazel leaf

Speckled wood resting on a hazel leaf

Quite a common butterfly where there are lots of trees and shrubs – their original habitat was clearings in woods.

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David

Red rattle

Red rattle

A parasitic plant.

Red rattle

These were growing in the meadow in the Coombes Valley RSPB reserve, near Leek.

Red rattle

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David

Common blue damselflies mating

Common blue damselflies mating

The mating ground of these Common blue damselflies was a small pond on the Coombes Valley
RSPB reserve in the Staffordshire moorlands.

Common blue damselflies mating

The pictures were taken early in July.

Common blue damselflies mating

Common blue damselflies mating

Common blue damselflies mating

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David

Vegetation after rain

Reed leaves after rain

Reed leaves above, and a foxglove flower below.

Foxglove in the rain

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David

Bees feeding on a patch of rosebay willowherb

Rosebay willowherb with a feeding bee

Willowherb flowers with two of the bees they had attracted. Rosebay willowherb is often one of the first generation of plants to colonise cleared ground, and often grows in clumps (bottom picture).

Rosebay willowherb with a feeding bee

Patch of rosebay willowherb

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David

A family of geese

A family of geese

This picture, taken at the very start of July, shows one of the parent birds (flapping wings) together with young which already looked almost full grown.