Beautiful Demoiselle

The Male Beautiful Demoiselle   Camopteryx virgo 

 

Both male and female visited my garden last week. Today I would like to show you the beautiful male Camopteryx virgo.

Greenfinches Continued

Female Greenfinch Carduelis chloris

 

 

 

The adult male Greenfinch has as you can see on a previous post an attractive yellowish green colour, whilst the female shown here, has a much duller brownish greyish green colour, different again from the streaked juvanile. It's a small bird of (15cm) with a relatively heavy pale triangular beak. All have slightly forked tails.

More Finches

Juvenile  Greenfinch   Carduelis chloris
 

 

 

 

 

 

The adult female has grey-brown slightly streaky upperparts. The upperparts are tinged with yellow, and there is less yellow on the wings and tail than the male. The bills and legs of both sexes are flesh coloured. Juveniles are similar to females but have darker streaks above and below.This one is  pretty heavily streaked, so  must be a juvenile! I have taken quite a few photos of Greenfinches and will be showing more in other posts. 

A Finch

The Male Greenfinch     Carduelis chloris
 

 

 

 

The flash of yellow told me that the greenfinch was back. I had seen it hiding in the conifer the day before, but it didn't come to the feeder. I threw a few sunflower seeds on the ground as I do every evening and hoped it would be brave enough and hungry enough to come down in time for me to get to my hide before the light faded.It came, and eventually brought all the family which I will show you on another post.

The Mountain Laurel

The Mountain Laurel   Kalmia latifolia
 

Today I want to show you my favourite shrub in the garden, the lovely Mountain Laurel. It's an evergreen shrub/tree with dark green glossy leaves which belongs to the heath family, and is a close relative of the rhododendrons and azálias. Mine stands 1 meter 50 tall, by I meter 20 wide, and I just love the large flower clusters, and tiny buds which form in May. It is the spring and summer flower display that make it a special part of my woodland garden. The showy light pink to white flowers resemble shallow cups or bowls l inch wide, and are borne in clusters, best seen in my last photo. They are great for cutting and make beautiful floral displays.

A Little Clouded Today

The Clouded Yellow Colias crócea ( Pieridae )

 

 

Resting Clouded Yellows rarely if ever open their wings fully. In flight the dominant orange-yellow wing colour can be seen. The upper wings have a broad dark brown margin.

Green Demoiselle

The Beautiful Demoiselle   Calopteryx virgo  The adult female

Jay Days

The Jay
Garrulus glandarius

A Butterfly of Rank

The Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta (Nymphalidae)

 

 

 

 

The Red Amiral's jet black upper wings are marked with bands of red and white spots, with a single blue spot at the base of each hindwing. The underside of the forewing has a similar pattern and colouring,however when resting this is often concealed by the more cryptic undersurface of the hindwing, which is marbled smoky Brown, bluish and black.The Red Admiral is found in almost any flowery habitat.

A Hawker

The Female Keeled Skimmer Dragonfly
Orthetrum coerulescens

Jay in May

The Jay (Garrulus glandarius)

 

The Jay is common in coniferous and mixed woodlands. usually seen on feeding excursions moving from wood to wood, and is then recognised by the broad rounded wings and the laboured flight with rather irregular wingbeats. The white on rump and wings is conspicuous at closer range, and the blue wing panel will not be noticed then. The Jays call is a sudden hoarse shout, but also clucking, mewing and intense bubbling sounds can be heard.

Mosaic Magic

The Marsh Fritillary
Euphydryas cynthia ( Nymphalide )

 

The Marsh Fritillary is such a colourful butterfly, with markings just as attractive on it's underwings but in subdued colours.It's wings are narrow by fritillary standards, and often open when sun basking.Wingspan is 4,5-5,2cm. It favours marchy ground, but also moorland up to 2,000m. As you can see, this one is basking on the arm of a garden chair.

Chocolate Vine

The Akebia quinata

 

The weather has changed again, and the forecast is rain for the next few days:( This Akebia quinata or Chocolate vine, half covers our pátio, and in between showers I took these photos yesterday to show you. It's a semi-evergreen climber with chocolate scented flowers which hang in clusters. The female flowers are the large ones, and they stand out against the bright green three lobed leaves which have a purple tinge in winter.

Putting you in the Picture

Dear fellow bloggers Over the weekend my computer refused to give me an image. The screen went completely blank and I feared the worst. This was'nt new to me as it had been happening on and off for weeks, and I had been considering buying a new one, but even so I sent it to be repaired, hoping for the best. It came back a couple of days ago, and I was pleased that it seemed to be working OK, only now, I can't see any of your posts. Your titles come up, with a blank square underneath where your photos should be, and when I click on your titles nothing happens! Also where the photos of my followers should be, it's an empty space. I don't know what's going on, but I thought I would put you all in the picture, and hope I'll be able to post this. See you as soon as I can:)