Lots of greater stitchwort flowers by the canal footpath. These were out at Castlecroft. Its name, and that of its smaller relative, lesser stitchwort, comes from its (former) use as a herbal remedy for abdominal cramps brought on when exercising without warming up (“stitch”). Effectiveness very doubtful.
Another pair of proud parent geese from West Park with recently hatched goslings. This time the birds are Canadas. There were three goslings when I took these pictures. Sadly, only two were still there the next day.
A busy bumble bee on dandelion flowers. The bee is a common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum).
For once a holly blue butterfly was resting with its wings open rather than folded. It was resting on an ivy leaf – one of the food plants of the caterpillars, and it may have been advertising its presence hoping to attract a mate.
Water lily leaves lying on the surface of Nursery Pond. The red colour is from growth hormone, and is a feature of new leaves of many species of plants.
Holly blue butterflies are tricky to photograph. They’re one of the smaller British butterflies. In the air, their flight involves so many seemingly random twists and turns that I find it impossible to get one in focus. When they land, as this one did, they spend most of the time with their wings folded. In that position, the deeper blue of their upper wings is hidden.