Wolves Wild

Robin’s pincushion: a gall which affects briars. These three were on the same twig of a briar growing in the hedge by the canal towpath beyond Castlecroft.

Golden Guernsey and Arapawa goats at Mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote. On this visit, one of the golden guernseys spent its time sticking its head through the fence of their compound, heavily hinting it wanted to be fed. The only arapawa to come out of the cover and deep shade of their shelter spent its time with its head buried in the water bowl.

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust properties in town at Stratford on Avon have extensive gardens, with carefully-considered plantings for displays of flowers and fruits in season. The gardens of the out-of town properties (not featured in this set) have old fashioned variety vegetables. Hall’s Croft does too, as well as a herb patch.

This selection of flowers and fruits were in the gardens earlier this month, seen in brief intervals between the bouts of heavy downpours of rain.

Seen at the edge of the canal at Compton, this lunchtime, a pair opf banded demoiselle damselflies mating.

There were at least five of the males (electric blue coloured) flying around nearby, at two or more females (green, paler and harder to spot).

One of the females landed on vegetation by the side of the water, and began arching her abdomen – dispensing pherenomes to advertise her presence. A male landed, with the two taking up the contorted looking positions to begin mating.

A little while later, another male repeatedly flew at the pair, seemingly trying to interrupt or to get in on the act. It was at this point that the mating pair moved a few yards along the canal bank to rest on fresh vegetation.

Swallow by the nest, up in the roof of one of the barns at mary Arden’s Farm, Wilmcote.

Meadow salsify (jack go to bed at noon) seed head, plant growing by the path at Baggeridge Country Park.