Scarlet tiget moth, its wings folded so the scarlet colour was hidden as it was busy feeding on alkanet flowers.
Poppies, busy bumble bees
Two poppies in front gardens. In the one, a white-tailed bumble bee energetically moving round gathering pollen; in the other a vestal cuckoo bee similarly engaged.
Heads down (cygnets feeding)
This year’s West Park cygnets, growing fast. Here in the middle of the lake, getting their heads down under the water, feeding.
Two mallard ducklings (one tiny, the other bigger) have managed to sneak in to pictures in the sequence. I didn’t spot them at the time, and have not seen any sign of them on several subsequent visits to the park.
Two Wolverhampton parks
Two Wolverhampton parks in panoramic view. The two islands in the West Park lake, and the wildflower meadow at Bantock Park (this year dominated by wild grasses).
Liocoris tripustulatus – Common nettle bug
A common nettle bug (Liocoris tripustulatus) looking round while on the tip of a butterfly bush leaf.
Lurid boletes on a dentists’ lawn
The second set of mushrooms I saw this summer, also a bolete. This time I was able to get a closer look – they were on a dentists’ lawn.
Some boletes are gourmet favourites. The penny bun will currently be on sale in continental markets under names such as ceps or Steinpilz. These are lurid boletes. Technically edible (not actually poisonous) but unpalatable (very unpleasant flavour).