A female Holly Blue on Dogwood flower buds; cleaning an antenna while sunbathing.
#WildWebsWednesday
Willington, Beds.

For #WildflowerHour #CabbageFamily - Honesty.
A native of southern Europe.
Priory CP, Bedford, Beds.

For #WildflowerHour -
Some Garlic Mustard (aka Jack by the Hedge).
These are newly appeared here as are Orange Tip butterflies, who lay their eggs upon it.
Chapel End, Beds.

I've not seen one of these before - a False Oxlip (left).
A hybrid of Primrose (top right) and Cowslip (bottom right) both of which were nearby.
Sheerhatch Wood, Beds.

It was fun looking for #treeflowers this week, though at times a step ladder would have been useful 😊.
Ash and Field Maple.
Hornbeam and Wild Cherry.
Willington, Beds.
For #WildflowerHour.

For #WildflowerHour #Storyplants.
Google gives many reasons why Yews are so often near Churches - historical, practical and symbolic.
Considered sacred before the arrival of Christianity, being evergreen and long lived, in Christian symbolism they represent eternal life.
St Leonard’s, Old Warden.

Between about 1.25 and 1.5 m above the ground, the leaves on this Holly went from having many spines, to some, then none - presumably reflecting the height of the local Roe Deer.
#Wildflowerhour
Thetford Forest.

A large area in the Thetford forest with the top soil removed (one of several). Is this to create habitat for Woodlarks, I wonder?
And a Crossbill at a drinking pool.
Thetford Forest
Yesterday.
#UKBirding

A Cherry Plum in bloom was a welcome reminder that spring is just round the corner 😊.
A late entry for #WildflowerHour
Willington, Beds.

For #WildWebWednesday
A Wood Pigeon on ivy looking for berries and (second picture) mid gulp.
Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk.

And unusual sight from the usual haunts today of a flying Bittern, which after landing in water that was I suspect deeper than hoped, dried off at the edge of a reed bed.
#recordshot
#bedsbirding
Causeway Lake, Willington, Beds.

Rufus Hound.

Rufus Hound.

At some point each winter Thrushes eat the fruit of this Rowan.
The bird gets a meal and with the seeds passing undigested through their gut, the plant gets its seeds dispersed.
Priory CP, Bedford, Beds.
#WildflowerHour

Cormorant perched in a tree.

Separated from myself by a river, this Cormorant (a wary species) allowed a closer than normal approach.
#bedsbirding
#ukbirding

A typical view of some very noisy (calls and dropping cones) but hard to see Crossbill at Warden Warren yesterday.
#ukbirding
#bedsbirding

It's a suprise they haven't been split 😉.

1 of 3 Spotted Flycatchers seen today, pausing to feed on their journey south.
Their broad bill bases (2nd pic) help to catch flying insects.
#ukbirding
#bedsbirding

For #WildflowerHour #fruits
Some dew covered Dewberry.
Willington, Beds.

Yes 😊.

Hello
Yes, yellow stripe on leg suggests a Common Darter (as opposed to Ruddy). Abdomen shape suggests a male (but immature).

A White Water-lily, looking like a painting.
Weerribbeen-Weiden NP
Netherlands.

Wayfaring Tree berries, with (to my mind) an autumnal feel to the mix of colours.
#WildflowerHour
Priory CP
Bedford, Beds.

For #WildflowerHour #Deadnettlefamily
The lovely Wild Clary.
Most at this site (in the background) had gone over.
Castle Mills Lock, Beds.

Am not seeing dark patches at hindwing base so am thinking Black-tailed Skimmer - a mature male.
Darkish eyes also consistent - would be bluer in mature male Scarce Chaser.

Having left the nest but still being feed by its parents, this Common Buzzard was making a begging call.
#ukbirding
#bedsbirding
Willington, Beds.

The over ripe fruit of a Wild Cherry was providing a butterfly breakfast.
For #wildwebwednesday
Bedford, Beds.

Some Docks for #WildflowerHour.
Curled Dock (top) and Clustered Dock (bottom).
Willington, Beds.

These seed pods with the morning sun behind them caught the eye.
(Field Pennycress?).
For #WildflowerHour
Cople, Beds.

A Southern Hawker allowed a close approach this morning.
A male, its slightly muted colours presumably due to it not being quite mature (?).
Bedford, Beds.
#Dragonfly