The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 26⁰C, minimum 10⁰C. 12 - 29 km/h North/West winds. Still very dry, and next week looks like another heat wave is on the way with no sign of rain.
Many of these photos are similar to the ones in the last post, but the insects are obviously not interested in changing for the benefit of my photography!! Apart from the first two, all were taken in our garden.
That time of the year.
Happy Sunflowers
A Great Banded Furrow Bee (I think) (Halictus scabiosae) Halicte de la Scabieuse.
Seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) Coccinelle à sept points.
A young European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Étourneau sansonne...
As above.
Gypsey Moth (Lymantria dispar) Spongieuse.
In the house : Phalaenopsis amabilis.
House Sparrow Female (Passer domesticus) Moineau domestique.
Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus). Male in front, female behind, looking a bit tatty! Argus bleu...
As above...
As above.
Gatekeeper or hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus) Amaryllis.
Small white or Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) Piéride de la rave...
As above.
European Wool Carder Bees (Anthidium manicatum) Abeille cardeuse - they are aggressive, but likeable bully bees, see my last post...
As above.
The only photo I have managed to get of a European Gold Finch, though there are several around, sadly, it was in the shade, so not very clear with the sun right behind. (Carduelis carduelis) Chardonneret élégant.
Wildflowers.
Long Smooth-headed Poppies (Papaver dubium) so I am told!
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) plus bug.
Dark mullein (Verbascum nigrum).
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) plus bug.
Dark mullein (Verbascum nigrum).
Woolcarder bee see above.
Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) Moro-sphinx...
As above.
Thyreus is an Old World genus of bees , one of many that are commonly known as cuckoo bees see my previous post...
Aa above.
Yet another European Carder Bee, but look carefully, there are two of them, male and female.
Halictus scabiosae see above.
Hoverfly Syrphini Sp. Maybe Eurasian Smoothwing (Scaeva pyrastri)?
Night beauty (Mirabilis jalapa) Belle de nuit.
They only open around 6 to 7pm.
Just a matter of interest, maybe... Our neighbour's barn, it has been in this state for the past 20years, as far as we know! Our wall and hedge are on the left.
Happy August everyone, there are still more photos for July yet!!
I admired a field of hay today. Love those scenes. Great captures of the insects. Starlings here always make their presence known and usually in a large group.i’ve never seen wild poppies here those the other flowers are.
ReplyDeleteThe poppies here grow all down the side of the roads, These just popped up in the middle of the lawn. The Starlings here also make their presence known, but these were youngsters looking for easy food in the garden. The two fig trees are loaded, so once the fruit is almost ripe a dark cloud will descend from the sky!!!!
DeleteEverything looks beautiful despite the lack of rain and your insect photos are as fabulous as ever. Stay cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks Penny, staying cool is easier for me than the garden, the latter is suffering. I hope all is well Diane
DeleteThose are some stunning shots, Diane. I would love to visit that sunflower field...so lovely!
ReplyDeleteSunflowers are everywhere at the moment though a lot are over. The farmers have been watering as there has been no rain near us, though we drove through a storm up North on Friday
DeleteGood morning, Diane. Your post is exquisitely put together, as it always is, with stunning pictures all correctly identified with scientific and common names and the added bonus of the French name too. One cannot but admire such attention to detail and it is so pleasing. Speaking of names, I think the renaming fad is going a little too far. Now we are admonished not to refer to Gypsy Moth, since this is considered pejorative and offensive. We must call them Spongy Moths or simply LD Moths. I shall doggedly cling to gypsy as a form of protest! It is a descriptive term and not in any way intended to demean a segment of society. With love and appreciation - David
ReplyDeleteI had it down as Spongy Moth, but when I double checked on the computer it appeared everywhere as Gypsy moth. The only reference to a sponge was in the French name so I changed it back to Gypsy moth!! Life in general is getting difficult with misunderstood words.
DeleteThanks for your very kind comment as always. Take care, bisous mon ami, Diane
Hi Diane - delightful photos ... I just imagine you sitting very quietly for hours on end waiting for each insect to arrive, take its stance or flight, and then click ... you takes your image!! I am quite sure this is not what you're doing. Brilliant takes though and thanks for the naming thereof. Butterflies, I gather, are having a good year ... the ups and downs of weather - why we get so agitated about it - nothing's changed since I was a kid ... hot and cold, and wet and windy ... too many urban people I guess, and I won't go into other aspects! Cheers and enjoy your Charente late summer time - I hope the rib is near healed, though a while longer ... I know. Take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteHaha, Hilary if I had hours on end to spend looking for insects you would get much better photos. It is generally a few minutes rush outside to just get a daily photo. We have not had a lot of butterflies this year, maybe the extreme heat! The rib is still painful, but I am expecting it to be another 3 weeks before it is right. It is though now much easier in bed to get comfy! Hope you are also on the mend, take it easy cheers Diane
DeleteI enjoyed seeing all the pretty visitors to your garden, wonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amelia for your visit and knd comment, much appreciated. Keep well, Diane
DeleteYour garden is absolutely buzzing with life. It's so lovely to see all the different insects and birds that are visiting. The photos are fantastic, and I especially love the close-ups of the butterflies and bees. It’s a great reminder of all the little things to appreciate in nature, even on a very dry day.
ReplyDeleteThat time of the year when all the insects are out and about. I love summer for photography and its warmth, despite this year being extra hot. I hate winter as I can never get warm and the insects also all disappear. The birds are about, but I struggle to get good photos of them. I certainly do not have time to sit in a hide and freeze as well 😅❄️ Take care and thanks for the kind comment. Diane
DeleteA beautiful view of nature through your lens. NICE....I esp love all those sunflowers. That would be so cool to do.
ReplyDeleteTanks Pam, I do love sunflowers they are always such happy flowers to me. I hope you are well, Diane
DeleteUn precioso reportaje que me ha encantado, me gustan mucho las flores y los insectos. Besos.
ReplyDeleteGracias, Teresa. Disculpa la demora en responder. ¡Hace demasiado calor en la oficina! Besos, Diane.
DeleteBonjour Diane,
ReplyDeleteBravo pour ce suivi de la vie dans votre jardin! C'est un exercice utile pour tous les curieux car les visiteurs sont bien identifiés! Je n'ai plus cette énergie au quotidien et je me contente de vérifier que ceux que j'ai identifié les années passées sont encore présent! Belle fin de semaine en espérant que vous ne souffriez pas trop de la canicule!
Salut Lucie. Je comprends. J'ai été très occupée cette année et je n'ai pas de temps libre. En plus, il fait beaucoup trop chaud ! J'espère que tout va bien, Diane.
DeleteHello dear Diane, your photos are absolutely stunning! Thank you so much for sharing from the view of your lens!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Linda, sorry for the delay in reply, but the office is upstairs, and and I am finding with the heat wave it is hard to work there. Your comment is much appreciated, Diane
DeleteI'm so impressed with your photography. To capture insects in flight is not easy. Well done. Hope you can keep cool in the heat wave. We have beautiful days but cold mornings.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Diane your comment is very welcome. Sorry it has take me so long to reply, but the office is upstairs, and working on the computer is like being in an oven. We still have at least another week of these very high temperatures. N rarely complains about too hot, but even he is complaining! I hope all is well over there, take care, t'other Diane
DeleteThose first pictures show just how quickly the seasons turn - it was spring last week!! Great collection of insect imahes too.
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
You are right and we have had an exceptionally hot summer with no rain. It has been too hot but I still prefer this to too cold!! Keep well. Cheers Diane
DeleteGreat shots, Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, I am struggling to keep up but your comment is appreciated.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks, I am struggling to keep up but your comment is appreciated.
Delete