15th July - One Step, Two Step

The hot dry weather continues, and the garden has taken on a very Mediterranean feel about it.  The grass is parched dry and yellow, and the plants flourishing are the lavenders and rosemary.  The lavender at times, looks as if it is alive as the Honey Bees constantly move about the flower heads.  there has also been a significant increase in the number of butterflies about.  Mostly Small and Green-veined White there has also been the odd Meadow Brown, a single Gatekeeper, Red Admiral and Peacock.  A single Holly Blue took advantage of the damp floor when I cleaned my car on Sunday morning.  

I spent sometime watching the activity around the plants and with the evening light I was able to get some beautiful colourful backgrounds.  I focused on the lavender and the Honey Bees.

The colours coming from the golden leaves in the flower beds being blurred by the focus.

It was a case of pick a flower stem and wait for the bee to arrive, they did not take long.

I was really pleased with the final shots.

The evening sunshine was also highlighting some of the more spectacular plants in the garden.  This teasel flower head back lit by the sun against a dark spot in the garden.

While this Sea Holly flower head changes appearance depending on the background and angle of the sunlight.

A dark background

And a more colourful background.

As well as the Honey Bees there was a single White-tailed Bumble Bee.

And several Small Whites would come down, quickly nectar and then move on

The antics of the Blackbirds continue to entertain.  "Our" Blackbird has continued to feed his two youngsters, despite the fact that they seem much bigger than him, and also have the capability to feed themselves.  

They follow him about, constantly calling and when there is food about begging with open beak and flapping wings.  We put out the worms, and he takes them straight to them.

We have also observed him "sun bathing" on the shed roof, stretched out wings and tail flat on the roof, and bill open to regulate the heat.  This apparently helps the feathers, spreading the protective oils and also getting rid of parasites.

I must admit at times his plumage looks a lot better, but this is probably down to the lack of rain, and not having to go in and out of bushes.

I sat quietly in the garden after placing mealworms in places where it was a little more photogenic

This is the look that says I want some more!

Interestingly the female, the mother of the two youngsters, appeared in the garden.  She is identifiable by the curled tail feathers.

She was collecting meal worms and taking them away into the hedges.  "Our" male never followed, although they would tolerate each other at the dish.  Either he has totally rejected the brood or they weren't his.  After appearing for a few days the female has now gone missing once again.

With the high numbers of butterflies about I decided to set the moth trap once again.  Surprisingly the numbers were not great, but I did manage to find some interesting moths, and one that was brand new for the garden.

Here is the Poplar Hawk Moth, the previous one a few weeks ago flew off before I could photograph it, this one did too, but I managed one shot on my finger.

Then one in a tree when it did fly off.

A Ruby Tiger.

A Scalloped Hook Tip

Willow Beauty

Coronet

And a Dusky Thorn

The brand new species for the garden was a Pale Prominent.

It has tufts at both ends which do make you wonder which way the head is., and elongate the body to make it appear larger than it is, and like a piece of dead wood.  A common moth in the south, the caterpillars feed on either Poplar of Sallow, neither of which can be found close to the garden.

With the forecast showing no sign in a let up for the dry, hot weather it will be interesting to see what state the garden becomes.