buzzards

a very young buzzard taking flight. It was perched near its home nest, and making the piteous mewing sound that sounds like a cat being strangled, that tells its parents it wants food now.

cuckoo bee

I am not sure whether this is a cuckoo bee or a wood wasp, or something else, warming up in a sunny glade.

Greenscoombe meadows

the meadows were resplendent in purple, yellow and white today, full of betony and knapweed; it feels like late summer even though summer has barely begun.

Luckett woods

the woods were full of light today, it was very warm, and this brought out the butterflies.

silver washed fritillary

this is the silver washed fritillary, found in old woods especially in the south. It is distinguished from other fritillaries by the silver streaks or wash on the underside of the wings (rather than spots). It is a powerful and agile flier. It looks very similar to high brown fritillary, which likes sunny glades.

centaury

common centaury and self heal growing on the very arid and acid soil of a woodland path.