On Sunday we slipped out for a brief wander. Even when our to-do list is longer than both arms we still try to break off and enjoy a wander somewhere. The sun kept being blocked out by the clouds so although it was mild it wasn't bright and warm. My expectation of seeing copious butterflies and dragonflies was quickly re-aligned to hoping to see anything. Considering the amount of flowers and lush vegetation I really thought they'd be plenty to see.
One of these large red damselflies (male?).
One of these blue demoiselle males.

Yes, a few bees. This first one looked pooped. Overdone things too early before the sun got going.
His mate was still buzzing around the rest of the yellow flag irises.

A dog walker tipped us off about young deer grazing. I wouldn't have initially thought this was a youngster but who knows?

Look at that nose. Should we call it a proboscis? I don't much like weird looking insects like this and hold strong suspicious they will fly at my face/hair or land on my leg and cause me great distress. I once stood in a field of long grass and though the tickling on my leg was just a fluffy ear but it turned out to be a caterpillar and any tickling on my skin makes me jumpy now.

Ah, this weirdy spit thing. Some people say sheep's spit but I read in a book recently it's a little bug or parasite which blows froth out of it's anus. [raises eyebrows and tries not to break into a giggle].

Is it a painted lady butterfly? It's hard to make out behind all the grass.
Fingers crossed to see more on brighter days!

Take care,
Sophie

On this particular occasion the weather had played it's spring joke where it masquerades as a sunny day; luring it's victims out under false pretence then whoosh in roll the clouds and the wind picks up, which send temperatures plummeting and teeth chattering. It was the wood full of bees who fell foul of this trick and had become tired and sleepy and slow in the chilly air. Instead of zipping here and there in an optimistic manner, they clung to flowers and moved in a laboured manner, behaving like they felt hungover.




The orchids! I'd not noticed these ones before, quite small and subtle. Once I noticed one, then another and then plenty more. After consulting my book and then a little Google I'm fairly certain these are all 'common spotted orchids'. The very word orchid just sounds quite important, doesn't it?. The colours can vary from whites to pinks.





The bluebells are now just a bazillion green seedheads looking most peculiar covering the forest floor.
The above? I don't lnow, my book wont tell me.

Silverweed a-plenty!

Water avens and buttercups...

Ah! A chance sighting of ragged robin, I've not come across it before. In fairness I'm none too partial to this kind of untidy flower. Am I a little snobbish to feel like this?
Take care,
Sophie

Buzzzzzzzz!
When we stumbled across some wild raspberry canes while out walking there was an unmistakable hum in the air. The little raspberry flowers played host to so many bees crawling all over them, seeking out nectar. Bees are so industrious aren't they? Trying to take photographs of any one is a particularly good illustration of how they go about their work; never staying still. Constantly moving from one flower to the next and the next and the next. It's inspiring. They don't dawdle, stop to natter amongst the others or have a little rest.
I wonder if they have any idea just how important they are to the rest of the planet? I don't expect so.


Be like the bees; busy, diligent and play an important role. Get stuck in.
Sophie

Sophie