The maximum temperature here today is 25⁰C, minimum 12⁰C. North-West winds of 9 km/h with gusts up to 24 km/h.
Common Wall Lizard, (Podarcis Muralis).
White Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris / lucorum).
Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)...
As above...
As above.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).
Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)...
As above...
As above...
As above.
Gatekeeper or Hedge brown (Pyronia tithonus).
Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album).
Broad-Bordered Bee Hawk Moth (Hemaris fuciformis)...
As above...
As above...
As above...
As above.
Panther Antlion (Dendroleon panthrinus).
Female House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)...
As above female.
Spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor)....
As above.
Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula).
Carrion crow (Corvus corone)...
As above.
Agapanthus africanus.
Day Lily.
Geranium.
Hydrangea.
Pansy.
Sunflowers.
Last but not least, a Californian Poppy with a Beefly (Bombylius Cruciatus).
Some enchanting images, Diane, especially those of the hawk-moths. I hardly see them here at all. Off to Ottawa to visit my daughter. Bonne journée et bisous - David
ReplyDeleteThanks David, the hummingbird hawkmoths are all over the place, but the bee hawkmoth is very special and I do not often see them. Hoe the visit to Ottawa was a good one. Bisous Diane
DeleteGosh...those photos are so beautiful! I love esp. those butterflies...and yes, that male blackbird sings the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. Yes the blackbird is a fabulous song bird but they are also naughty and dig out my pot plants looking for worms!!! Keep well Diane
DeleteSuch beauty. Love the insects. I never seem to get a photo of a butterfly with its wings open. The blooms make me smile. So perfect in design and colour! Good to see your blog, Diane.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Marie. Butterflies can be very frustration, and I have little patience, so I am happy when I can get a shot of open wings. I hope all is well over there. Cheers Diane
DeleteVery beautiful images. Since 2 days ago we have a blackbird at home fallen from its nest. Have a good week end.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit and the comment. I hope the little blackbird is doing well. Cheers Diane
DeleteMagnificent captures!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandi for the visit and the comment, much appreciated. Keep well Diane
DeleteGreat pictures Diane. I rarely see such good pictures of Hummingbird Hawk Moth. You had good shutter speeds there. I just can't get good pics of insects so I think I need a few lessons from you. Sorry to hear your Blackbird problem but know they do love soft fruits. I'm pretty sure your starling is Spotless Starling, not a species we get here but I have seen them in Spain. Google some images. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, I am useless at photos with any other camera and lens. The Nikon and the Tamron lens do the job for me!! Re the starling, you are probably right as I do know there are spotless around, but generally the ones I see here are the spotted ones, my ID was a bit of a guess, Possibly still a young one as it was not black. My Merlin App has picked up the song of the spotless in the garden, so I will change my ID. Thanks. Cheers Diane
DeleteWow! So many terrific shots!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam, I delight in summer when there are so many insects around. Keep well Diane
DeleteSorry for the late visit, Diane - Lindsay and I have been in the New Forest for a week and now I have a lot of catching-up to do.
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful selection of images. I am particularly jealous of your Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth, and your Scarce Swallowtail. That Panther Antlion is a fabulous-looking creature too!
Best wishes to you both - - - Richard
Hi Richard, catching up is not easy as well I know.
DeleteMy days just vanish and so little time for the computer. Do you get the Queen of Spain Fritillary over there? I have not seen a Bee Hawkmoth for a few years, so I am delighted to have seen several this year. Plenty of Scarce Swallowtails around 😊
The Antlion was luck as if I had not spotted it in the house, I would not have known they existed here.
I hope that all is well with Lindsay and you of course as well. Take care, cheers Diane
You always out do yourself on your critter/insect pics. These are just beautiful. Have you ever had a coffee table book made with your pics? You should, give as gifts. I will never forget the first time I ever saw a hummingbird moth. I was in my 30s, sitting on the deck after dark with a guy I was dating, it flew right by me. I had a moon flower growing on the outside of the deck and since it was my first time I did not realize how wild it would grow. But it grew up and wrapped around the rails of the deck, the moth was hanging all over it. Great job,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Pam for the lovely comment. A coffee table book sounds like a good idea but I would have difficulty choosing I suspect, I will give it some thought. I have friends in South Africa who have a Moon flower, it is also huge. I hope all is well with you, take care. Cheers Diane
DeleteI enjoy your photos of the critters. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy for the visit especially when you have so much going on in your life at present. I hope all is well and you are nearing the end of your treatment with good results. Please take care, Diane
DeleteBeautiful pictures
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit Rajani and the comment. Diane
DeleteSuch beautiful photos Diane! I'm guessing you are up early in the morning to catch the butterflies holding still long enough for such lovely photos (?).... however you manage to capture their flitting beauty, I thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteEarly mornings are not on my to do list!!! Most of my photos are taken late afternoon. Thanks so much for the visit and the comment, appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteOnce again a lovely collection of photos. you capture the birds so well. Hope you are coping with the heat.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, it is not that hot here only upper 20s and occasionally into 30sC. I have to say the insects are so much easier than the birds. If I had the patience (and the time) to sit in a hide all day I might do better ☺ I hope that all is well, thanks for the visit, t'other Diane
DeleteLove every shot! I marvel at your skill and patience.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaelyn, as I have mentioned before I am a very impatient person. The skill is simply my camera! Glad you enjoyed the photos. Cheers Diane
DeleteMore wonders of nature, and always a pleasure to see them. Thank you Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Denise for the kind comment, much appreciated. Take care Diane
DeleteBonjour Diane.
ReplyDeleteInsectes ou fleurs, c'est riche et beau ! T'es photos sont merveilleuses, bravo et merci de les partager.
Oh lalala, ces moineaux qui se baignent hi hi hi, ils sont trop craquants !
Gros bisous et bon weekend.
La chaleur descend ces jours-ci. Il faudrait un peu de pluie chez moi.
Merci Nathalie. Les moineaux sont très mignons. Oui, nous avons besoin de pluie, le jardin est très sec.
DeleteBisous Diane
I was fairly sure about the Starling but now impressed that you isolated their song in your garden. I never realised they might be a garden species. As you say, we live and learn. And, if you don't mind, and I know you won't, the second picture of House Sparrow is a very young one by virtue of the still yellow gape. Wish we had your temperatures. A weekend of rain now, paying for the hot June.
ReplyDeleteI did wonder if it was a young one, but I did not know about the yellow gape, thanks for the info. It had actually flown into our lounge window which is very unusual as we have bird stickers all over them to stop this from happening. I went out picked it up and kept it in my closed hands for a while in the dark allowing some air in. I then put it down under a bush and wondered if it would stay put long enough for me to go and get the camera for a photo. It did and then flew off seemingly just fine. I hope it is learnt a lesson about windows. Thanks Phil, cheers Diane
DeleteGreat insects (and birds and flowers). I remember my kids being amazed when they saw a Bee Hawk Moth when we were in Europe. Hope all is well. SM
ReplyDeleteI am sure I replied to this before but....... I was also amazed when I saw my first one here in France. Cheers Diane
DeleteYou have some of the most beautiful photos of garden flowers and critters I have ever seen. Always a joy scrolling through your pictures of nature.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Yvonne for taking the time to say such nice things about our garden. Much appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteHi Diane - wonderful to see these ... I loved the Broad Bordered Bee Hawk Moth, the Queen of Spain Fritillary, Hummingbird Hawk Moth and the Scarce Swallowtail ... and all the other stunning photos - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary, the Bee Hawk Moth is one of my favourites and we do not see them very often. I hope all is well, cheers Diane
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