02/09/2024 A few photos from July, still trying to catch up!!

 The maximum temperature in the Charente today was 26⁰C, minimum 15⁰C.  4mm's of rain last night.  North/West wind of 10km/h with gusts up to 24km/h.

Bombylius species possibly (Bombylius cruciatus)...

As above.

A young Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus).

Great Tit (Parus major).

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis).

Cricket-bat Orbweaver (Mangora acalypha).

A Cricket nymph that thinks I cannot see him hiding in the rose petals - it was moved to another plant!

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Brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni).

Another cricket nymph on a Love-in-the-Mist (Nigella damascene).

Bumble bee (Bombus-lucorum)...

As above...

As above.  Just look at the amount of pollen that has been collected.

European greenfinch (Chloris chloris).

Another Great Tit.

Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)[Ecureuil Roux in French] protected through most of Europe...

As above...

As above...

As above...

As above...

As above, sorry I got hooked on this little fellow visiting our garden.

Female Stag beetle (Lucanus Cervus).

Gatekeeper butterfly also known as a Hedge Brown (Pyronia tithonus). It was on a Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta).

Large White Female (Pieris brassicae).

As above

Another Cricket-bat Orbweaver (Mangora acalypha).

17/08/2024 Catching up with photos but this is still in June!!

The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 24⁰C, minimum 16⁰C.  It has been raining and the garden has perked up.  Rain has never been more welcome as we have had several weeks of temperatures over 30°C and up to 40°C .

 South/West wind of 13km/h with gusts up to 37km/h.

In the garden Orlaya grandiflora and poppies. Plus a Nigella damascena seed head.

Graphosoma italicum - we had a lot of these shield bugs this year, I guess we will have even more next year!

These photos were taken from inside the house and at quite a distance but I was happy to see this young Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)....

As above...

As above.

Just a mix in the garden of Californian poppies, a rose, geraniums and daylilies.

A surprise visit from a Marbled newt (Triturus marmoratus).

A long way off on the neighbour's barn but I was happy to see a little owl (Athene noctua). I hear them all the time but I seldom spot them easily.

Caterpillar of the Gypsy Moth (Lymantria dispar)...

As above - quite a scary face.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) spotted outside and photos taken through the window.  Thankfully it only zapped a Collard dove of which we have many.  The little birds escaped....

As above...

As above...

As above...

As above,

Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) and a Buff/White-tailed Bumble bee (Bombus terrestris / lucorum) they are not easy to tell apart, enjoying the blackberry blossoms.

A Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria).

Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens.......  This was in June just before the rains stopped.

More in the garden Daylilies, a Climbing rose, Lavender and courgette flowers.

Common Bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus).

This year we have had the best roses ever - so much rain early in the year, but not so good for the fruit trees!

Fencepost Jumping Spider (Marpissa muscosa).

Wildflower (Elecampane Inula helenium).

Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)  or in French a Moro Sphinx.

As above...

As above,

Climbing rose.

Bee fly (Bombylius species).

As above.

Cricket nymph.

The last five photos are from July so I am catching up a bit!!!!!