The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 33⁰C, minimum 16⁰C.
12 - 26 km/h North winds. The next fortnight is expected to get even hotter, with Tuesday at 38⁰C, storms forecast. Wednesday and Thursday, but that might not happen. The lawn is brown and burnt, as are the wildflowers, but of course, the weeds we do not want are thriving!! The vegetable garden is struggling.
Birds Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Lotier corniculé.
Rosemary Beetle (Chrysolina Americana), Chrysomèle du Romarin.
Creeping Cinquefoil with beetle (Variimorda-villosa), Mordelle veloutée à pointe.
Sweet William with Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Syrphe ceinturé.
Cricket Bat Orb Weaver (Mangora acalypha) has caught its breakfast. Mangore petite-bouteille.
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), Grosbec Cassenoyaux with House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Moineau Domestique in the background.
Male and female Hawfinches.
Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria), Tircis.
Top : Love in a Mist, Cherries, Clematis.
Bottom : Hydrangea, Loganberry, Comfrey.
Cricket Bat Orb Weaver (Mangora acalypha), Mangore petite-bouteille.
Adela australis is a moth of the family Adelidae or fairy longhorn moths.
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) Grosbec Cassenoyaux.
Scorpion Fly (Panorpa communis) Mouche scorpion The scorpion-like tail is only seen in the male and is in fact its genitalia - and doesn't sting!
Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris tityus) Sphinx bourdon.
Hawfinch male and female...
As above.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) with a Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus), Pigeon ramier. Not a great photo, but it gives the idea of the size difference. Sparrows and a Chaffinch in the background.
Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) female. Pic épeiche.
Rhododendron - Sweet William - Peony.
Rose - Love in a Mist with lavender - Day Lily.
I am sure it is a Saitis Banner-legged jumping Spider, Genus (Saitis), but I can go no further. It is about the size of two pin heads!!
Day Lily with bug (Horistus orientalis) it is a species of plant bugs, part of the suborder Heteroptera (also called "true bugs"), which belongs to the family Miridae,
Wildflowers - Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) - Pyramidal Orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris) - Bladder campion, White Cockle or maiden tears (Silene vulgaris).
More wild flowers. I am not certain of ID’s, but I am guessing at Oxeye daisies, buttercups and red and white clover.
Oedemera nobilis, also known as the false oil beetle, thick-legged flower beetle or swollen-thighed beetle. This will be a male; the female does not have such swollen legs, Oedémère noble.
Now the end of June and these photos are still from May!!!
Brilliant photos Diane! Always love your macros. That Birds Foot Trefoil stood out for me today, but every photo is delightful. Wishing you a very happy July and thank you for sharing what you see in your part of the world.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise and I agree the flower is stunning. A Happy July to you as well. I suspect we are going to have another very hot month! Keep well Diane
DeleteHi Diane. Thought I would leave a message here instead of Facebook. Fabulous photos as always. . I'm just as bad as you. , I haven't posted a lot of my holiday photos yet . Great that you are still blogging xx
ReplyDeleteAnne it gets more and more difficult to keep up but so far I have still managed my one blip a day!! Thanks for the comment it is much appreciated. Take care and keep cool :-) Cheers Diane xx
DeleteJust a quick word this time, Diane. I am away in the Ottawa Valley for my oldest grandson’s wedding. Will be home and back to normal in a couple of days. Bon weekend. Bisous - David
ReplyDeleteThanks David for taking the time to comment, enjoy the wedding. I hope it is a little cooler for you there than it is here at the moment. Safe trip back home. Bisous, Diane
DeleteBeautiful macro captures Diane. I'm always amazed at the variety you find.
ReplyDeleteHi Penny, I seem to have got my eye in for spotting insects. Birds I find are far more difficult as with hunting here the birds are always nervous. Too hot here at present though to do much outside! Keep well Diane
DeleteMale and female Hawfinches...is the one with the light brown neck a male? They are so pretty. So are those flowers!
ReplyDeleteHi Angie, yes the male is the one with brown on its head and neck. As with most birds, the male is the more colourful one. Hope it is a bit cooler where you are, but Europe seem very hot at the moment! Take care, Diane
DeleteBonjour Diane, Merci pour ton commentaire! Bravo pour la diversité rencontrée dans ton jardin, je vois que les oiseaux se régalent avec les cerises. Ici les Grosbecs ne viennent qu'en hiver, à la mangeoire! Je voudrais bien voir un jour un Sphinx bourdon!
ReplyDeleteTon petit Saitis est "barbipes". J'en ai plusieurs qui dansent pour moi!! Ici il fait chaud mais moins que chez vous, nous vivons au ralenti! Belle fin de dimanche!
Bonjour Lucie. Merci beaucoup pour ce gentil commentaire. Les Grosbecs s'intéressaient surtout aux graines de tournesol, qui se trouvaient justement dans le cerisier ! Nous avons beaucoup d'araignées sauteuses, mais je peux rarement les prendre en photo ! Oui, il fait très chaud ici ! Bonne semaine, Diane.
DeleteHi Diane - lovely photos ... have you got your special lens back from 'gaie Parie'? Excellent photos and thank you for giving us the names of each species ... they are all just wonderful. I do think of you and your weather compared to ours here - well mine, by the coast! I do hope things are easier in other directions ... with thoughts - but stunning looking backdrop to your garden - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary ,and yes I have now got my lens back, so lots of little guys are included in my photos once again. It is very hot and getting hotter, no end in sight so July might be a disaster. for the garden. I think of all the work I have put into it!! N's back is still not good and he went to see a new physio earlier in the week to try someone better - they will phone him in October! Sigh. Take care, cheers Diane
DeleteDear Diane, I am so happy to see your post, I have missed you ❤️ Your photos are absolutely stunning. Thank you 😊 🙏 so much for sharing the beauty around you. Your posts are a breath of fresh air as well as your presence. It has been very hot and humid in Montreal as well, typical of our summers which can reach over 40 Celsius. Take good care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda for the very kind comment, people like you make it all worthwhile. In the office now at 20h20 it is at 30C!! I hope my next blog will be a bit quicker, but there is just so much to do and trying now to keep part of the garden alive is not easy. So much work wasted if it dies! Keep well and have a good week, Diane
DeleteWe don’t have that woodpecker here. It is a beauty. Thank you for featuring it. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you Marie, I was lucky to spot the woodpecker two days in a row, since I have only heard it!! Take care and enjoy summer, cheers Diane
DeleteI love photograping insects and flowers. You don't have to tell them to turn their head or look at me and smile! Great shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. Haha, no you do not have to tell them to smile, but how to you ask them to keep still for a few seconds. Even worse when they are still and the flower is blowing around. Keep well and take care Diane
DeleteGreat shots! The rosemary beetle is really cool looking.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, they are very pretty, but sadly they are also pests!! Hope all is well, Diane
DeleteGreat shots as usual. Love the Hawfinches. You are so clever identifying all the bugs.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane. Not really clever, it just takes time and research, another reason why I don't have much time to blog :-)))) Happy weekend, t'other Diane
DeleteStunning photos. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment, much appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteAmazing post and beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly for the visit and the comment, thy are very welcome. Cheers Diane
DeleteThis post is like a nature diary with some serious character — from scorched lawns and stubborn weeds to tiny beetles and rare moths showing off. Love how the harsh heat doesn’t stop life from doing its thing, even if it’s a bit messy. The Cricket Bat Orb Weaver catching breakfast? That’s pure wild drama. You’ve got a real eye for the little things most of us miss.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/07/the-cheese-cure-my-review-finding-more.html
Melody I normally delete anything with a link, next time I will, but thanks for the very kind comment.
DeleteHello Diane, I just read your comment over at David's blog and am so sorry to hear about your fall. I do hope you are feeling better and wish you a speedy recovery.
ReplyDelete