an occasional visitor

great spotted woodpecker, one of my favourite but only very occasional visitors to the garden

the slightest thing

a green lacewing (chrysopa perla I think) in amongst the grasses and sorrel. The pollen was coming off the grasses in the meadows in great clouds today. And there was a great flash of blue as a kingfisher flew past chinking as it went like two coins knocked together.

a small skipper

the small skipper (male with little black bands on wings), quite common at this time of year but frisky and can be difficult to catch on camera

off spring

a goldfinch showing its youngster the ropes, and a blackbird doing all the work for its youngster

summer days

fresh frisky tortoiseshell posing on some silverweed

and a two coloured leaf beetle (chrysolina polita) on a flag iris

tableau des agneaux

finding a cool place on a hot day