Jewels And Treasures

Recently it's been what English people call "hot", but I've managed a few short walks and found some of nature's smaller wonders, none that are rare or unusual at this time of year, but all of which pleased me greatly.

A Large Skipper butterfly,

the sort of tiny thing that I often see as it flits across the path,

but seldom stop to look at.

Ragwort

a plant which has a bad reputation as it's said to be poisonous to horses.

However it's a food source for many insects.

A Common Blue Damselfly.

Very common indeed around some of our ponds in July.

But how can all the necessities for life be packed

into such a slender form?

The Red-Eyed Damselfly may be even smaller.

At the side of the water

a young Moorhen waits for its mother to return.

I was hoping it would step on to drier ground where we could see its enormous feet:

they always look like children who have put on their father's boots!

These are the flowers of Traveller's Joy or Clematis vitalba,

also known as Old Man's Beard from its hairy white seed-heads.

Another name is Boy's Bacca because the dry stems can be smoked 

(other harmful substances are available).

A Comma butterfly.

A Ruddy Darter dragonfly.

Young Swallows have fledged but still wait for their parents to feed them.

They'll have to learn quickly, as they'll be flying off to Africa in a couple of months.

Another quick snap then I'll leave them to it.

White butterflies are everywhere

This is a Green-Veined White.

Banded Demoiselles are also abundant

alongside the stream.

There's another one!

Take care.