13/08/2020 Mainly insects in the garden.

 Maximum temperature here today 24⁰C, minimum 18⁰C.  21 mm in the last 3 days and raining as I type this.  So far we have been lucky other people nearby have had bad hail.  21km/h South-Westerly winds with gusts up to 48 km/h.

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis).

22 spot ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) heading its way up my wine glass!...

It gave up at the top of the stem and flew away.

Orange-legged Furrow Bee (Halictus rubicundus). I liked the hairdo 😏.

European hornet (Vespa crabro)... 

As above.

Bumblebee...

As above...

As above.

Butterfly - one of the blues but with the wing damage I am not sure which...

The same blue (male) and Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina).

European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula).

Larvae of either a Cockchafer or a Stag beetle.

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta).

As above

Cosmos and bug.

My local list of wildflowers. (89 Species 20/07/2020).

See also my

 Bird blog

14/07/2020 Bastille Day, but no major celebrations this year thanks to COVID.

Maximum temperature here today 26⁰C, minimum 13⁰C. Dry.  13km/h North-Westerly winds with gusts up to 32 km/h.

The French national holiday of Bastille Day—celebrated each year on July 14, or le quatorze juillet—normally there would be fireworks and a large military parade for some, but for most, it still marks the anniversary of the storming of a grand fortress that was infamous for holding political prisoners, during the first moments of the French Revolution in Paris in 1789. Further information here if you should be interested.

As I leave home and walk down the road, the first thing to greet me is acres and acres of sunflowers,

they are just beautiful at this time of the year.

On the other side is a collection of wildflowers including poppies.

Further on looking through the forest.

At the end of our road where I do a left and a right turn next to another farm.

Quite a big herd of cattle out...

and on the other side, this family of 3 were in a separate field. The calf decided to lie down just as I took the photo!!

The dam opposite a private chateau which was surprisingly quiet.  No insects and very few birds !

Further on this guy was in a huge hurry but I managed one reasonable shot as it rushed by

European Field Cricket (Gryllus campestris).

Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria).

Seven spot Ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata).

Longhorn Beetle (Stictoleptura cordigera).

Beetle (Oedemera noblis).

Yellow 22 spot Ladybird (Psyllobora vigintiduopunctata) often shortened to (Psyllobora 22-punctata).

Bees in tandem.

Little owl (Athene noctua) more photos on the bird blog.

The closest I have ever seen either of them.

My local list of wildflowers. (85 Species 06/07/2020)

See also my

 Bird blog

23/07/2017 In the garden again!

Maximum temperature 23C, minimum 10C.   22 km/h SW winds with 25 km/h gusts. 6 mm rain measured this morning.

Blue tit. (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Think this is a Blue tit youngster just starting to change colour.

Great tit, possibly also a youngster. (Parus major)

Gatekeeper female.  (Pyronia tithonus)

I thought this was a large white, but looking again I do not think so. Possibly Pieris family but.....

Lady bird.

Bee on the thyme...

as above.

Bee on a zinnia.

Raspberries.

Roses.

Stargazer again... Sorry it only lasts for a short time so I am making the most of it!!!

27/05/2016 Around our garden.

Maximum temperature 23C, minimum 13C, 19 km/h SE winds.  3 mm rain measured.

Euro Fighter overhead today!

Lawn cut.

Azalea.

Cherry.

Chives.

Lizard in the fir tree!

Pansies.

Peonies.

Petunia.

Ladybird,

Rose.

As above.

Sage.

Small Copper.

Thick-Legged Flower Beetle, Oedemera nobilis.  Thanks to Noushka now identified.