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David

Sow thistle flowers going over

Sow thistle flowers going over

A roadside sow thistle as some of the flowers had begun to turn to seed.

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David

Slowly moving amber snail

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Snail, possibly a Pfeiffer’s amber-snail (Oxyloma elegans) slowly, slooowly crawling higher along one of the bulrush leaves in Compton Park pond.

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David

Purple, common knapweed flowering

Purple, common knapweed flowering

Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra), yet another of the wildflowers which has been encouraged in teh wetland area around the Compton Park pond.

Purple, common knapweed flowering

There’s a tiny insect of some sort visiting the flower too.

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David

Two young magpies, West Park

Two young magpies, West Park

Two magpies in West Park, prospecting for food in one of the areas where people leave peanuts in the grass for squirrels. I’m guessing they were young birds from their lack of caution near the busy footpath.

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David

Hairy pods (garden broom)

Hairy pods (garden broom)

The pods are a sign that brooms are related to the likes of peas and beans. The hairs will discourage animals from eating them, with their doubtless tender and fleshy seeds inside.

Hairy pods (garden broom)
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David

Meadow browns, wary butterflies

Meadow brown flittering by

The meadow brown butterflies seem to be acting particularly wary this year. This one kept fluttering by keeping its distance.

Meadow brown trying to look inconspicuous

And this one kept landing in long grass, as if trying to be too inconspicuous to be seen but still able to bask in the sun.