22/07/2020 Random photos from the garden

Maximum temperature here today 31⁰C, minimum 19⁰C. Dry.  14km/h North-Easterly winds with gusts up to 31 km/h.

Scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)...

As above...

As above...

As above...

Seen in Chasseneuil while out walking - Magnolia (Virginiana-Swamp-Laurel).

Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Silver Washed Fritillary (Argynnis paphia)...

As above.

Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis Muralis) this guy went through the hole at the bottom of the door.  It then obviously found a large healthy meal inside.  This caused it to get stuck on its way out as it was too fat!!  This was visiting a friend,  not our door.  All our doors and window are oak.

Poppy (Papaver rhoeas).

Granny Smith - we have 2 trees.

Mirabelle plums - 4 trees.

Broad Bordered bee Hawk-moth (Hemaris fuciformis)...

As above.

Butternut Squash, I have counted at least 16 under the leaves.

Haricot beans.

Beetle Longhorn 8Spot Hornet  Beetle (Leptura  aurulenta).

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

See also my

 Bird blog

Lots if insects out walking - Part 2

Maximum temperature here today 18⁰C, minimum 11⁰C. Rain measured this morning 5 mm. 17km/h South-Westerly winds with gusts up to 46 km/h.

It appears that there will still be a part 3 for May insects!!  Perhaps it is good that we are having a few rainy days and I am not taking many photos in June as yet!!

Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxia).

Damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) Female.

  

Damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) Male...

As above

Damselfly (Calopteryx splendens or C Virgo!) Male.

Damselflies - (Coenagrion puella).

Bumblebee on the lavender.

There was quite an orgy going on with hundreds of these Graphosoma italicum mating making very sure they did not become extinct!!

As above...

As above.

Beetle longhorn (Rutpela_maculata). It was very windy and I was lucky to get any photo at all with the wind blowing the flower all over the place.

Coma butterfly (Polygonia c-album).

Green-veined white butterfly (Pieris napi).

Holly Blue butterfly  (Celastrina argiolus).

Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina) male...

As above.

Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa Atlanta).

Scarce swallowtail butterfly (Iphiclides podalirius)...

As above.

My thanks to Richard for ID once again of some of the difficult (for me) insects.  If you have not visited his blog I highly recommend it.  Any mistakes on ID are very much my own as I sometimes think I know better than to ask!!!

Our local list of wild flowers

See also my

 Bird blog

29/07/2019 The rain seems to have brought out the butterflies

Maximum temperature today 27C, minimum 11C.  Dry.  16km/h North-westerly winds with gusts up to 35 km/h.  We had 20mm of rain over the weekend, it helped cool things down, but we need a lot more for the gardens and farms.

The return of the Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius) on the lavender....

As above...

As above... 

As above...

Small White (Pieris rapae).

Common blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) male...

As above female...

As above...

Now I am not sure as these next two look so similar but different!!  I think they are both Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus), but I would be happy for someone to correct me if I am wrong.

see above.

Crab spider with what I believe to be a Meadow Brown,

As above, yummy dinner!

Bee in a hurry...

As above,

Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum).

Stargazer Lily, the sun has sadly burnt all the other Lilies!

A few veggies from the garden. Potatoes, tomato, carrots and courgette.

See also my Bird blog 

and My life In the Charente