some speckulations

a young mistle thrush learning to sing (above), and a speckled wood butterfly resting after mortal combat with another male (they are very territorial).

sylvan settings

little stream running past New Mill and along Broadgate lane. Not sure what the red flower is but it looks like a garden escapee.

and the relic daffodil

one solitary multi headed white daffodil, surviving from when the meadows were used to grow daffodils many years ago. Again I like the sense of the meadow crowding in on this lone specimen. Diversity is everything.

and some orchids

marsh orchid (top) just coming into flower, and heath spotted orchid below. Sorry Carletta, we were 10 days too early. I like these photos because they hint at the tangle of life in the meadows.

common as blue

a nice close up of a common blue butterfly (male) sitting on a ragged piece of the head of plantain. This is a very petite butterfly.

hungry chicks

We had a crowd of juvenile starlings and their parents in the garden this afternoon. The juveniles are much lighter than their parents and bigger (at least fluffier) and very demanding.