Wolves Wild

Betony, a summer wildflower – these were in the patch of rising vegetation by the Compton Park pool.

Male blue-tailed damselfly showing itself resting in the sun on the decking of the footbridge at Compton Park pool.

Cob (male swan) swimming on West Park lake with one of its legs twisted so the large oar-like foot was out of the water.

The bird is one of the parents of this year’s brood of cygnets, and was spending less and less time guarding its mate and the chicks as the chicks grew and were increasingly able to take care of themselves.

Moorhen standing where a build-up of vegetation has made a shallow patch in the pool in Compton Park, stretching its muscles.

Large numbers of flies gathering near the water of the pool at Compton Park. Possibly they were recently emerged as adults.

This year’s West Park cygnets again, here sticking their heads right down in the water of the lake as the mother bird keeps guard nearby.

Male large red damselfly resting near the edge of the decking of the Compton Park pool footbridge. The females are harder to spot, as they are both more cryptically coloured and less likely to be at rest in the open.

Large skipper butterfly feeding on a thistle flower by a path in the Barley Field, as it warms itself in the morning sunshine.

Despite the warmth, there were very few butterflies around that morning. In fact, just one other skipper, just a little too far away and a little to shy to see clearly enough to be sure it was the same species.

Tall top of a wormwood plant, this one growing on the shore of the West Park pool.

Lone and still very young mallard duckling swimming on the pool at Mary Stevens Park. A few seconds earlier it had been moving at speed to escape being harassed by a coot.

This squirrel looked like it was in an advanced stage of pregnancy late last month. Although it looked relaxed, it was keeping a careful eye on me.

Comma butterfly, probably newly emerged as an adult at the end of last month when this picture was taken, spreading its wings to warm itself in the morning sunshine while it ate from a thistle flower.