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David

Acorn-hunting jay, Wightwick Manor

Acorn-hunting jay, Wightwick Manor

Jay on the ground under an oak tree at Wightwick Manor, hunting acorns. The Heritage Open Days held every year in September give the chance to visit the site without the usual entrance charge. The gardens and grounds are so extensive that it’s possible to find undisturbed spots away from the crowds where the wildlife is still showing itself unconcerned.

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David

Pink-flowered yarrow, Malvern slopes

Pink-flowered yarrow

Patch of yarrow with pink flowers, rather than the more usual white, on the slopes of the Malvern Hills.

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David

Southern hawker flashing by, Compton

Southern hawker flashing by, Compton

Southern hawker dragonfly flashing by, patrolling its territory along a stretch of the canal and the canalside vegetation at Compton.

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David

Packed lunch (spider/fly)

Packed lunch (spider/fly)

Garden cross spiders are quite noticable, one of the largest spiders in Britain, quite common through the summer and autumn. The orb webs the females build can be large – and easy to spot when covered in droplets of early morning dew. The pictures are of one which has caught a fly in its web, and is now wrapping it in silken threads to be a later meal.

Packed lunch (spider/fly)

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David

Contortions: heron preening, West Park

Contortions: heron preening, West Park

Heron standing on a willow on the edge of island in West Park lake, twisting its neck as it preened.

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David

Michaelmas daisies with tortoiseshell butterfly

Michaelmas daisies with tortoiseshell butterfly

What can be spotted by keeping half an eye on front gardens while walking down a residential street. Here a large clump of Michaelmas daisies which had attracted one tortoiseshell butterfly collecting pollen.