A patchwork leafcutter bee (Megachile centuncularis) on a thistle flower, sampling the pollen, and getting some of it scattered over its back.
Bulrush flowers, Compton Park pond
Flowering seasonfor the bulrushes which re increasingly the dominant vegetation of the Compton Park pond.
Two robins
Two robins recently in the Smestow Valley nature Reserve. One was flying around in the bushes at the edge of the Barley Field. The other searching for things to eat on the surface of the Railway Walk nearby.
Yellow: ragwort close-ups
Ragworts quite often have butterfly or moth caterpillars feeding on their leaves, but I haven’t managed to find any so far this year. So I settled for a few close-ups of the ragwort flowers instead.
Semaphore flies assembling
Every summer, tens of semaphore flies assemble near the edge of the Compton Park pond. My impression is that there have been somewhat more of them around than usual this year.
Purple fringe: teazle flowers
Teazles when they are flowering, looking like there’s a thin layer of purple which I guess is the pollen.