It was a slow start to last week, not brightening up until later on.
Yet as I waited for the bus to work on Monday I saw some Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
It would have been flowering since June but the council have allowed the verges to grow long enough for it to fully bloom around the bus stop. Once in folklore it was believed to bring good luck and wellbeing if you carried it with you.
Tuesday was a washout so it was nice when I started to see bees and butterflies flying around from Wednesday onwards.
I noticed a different butterfly to those I usually identify.
There were two Gatekeepers (Pyronia tithonus) also called Hedge brown butterflies basking on some Bergamot (Monarda).
Bergamot is also called Bee balm because it is loved by bees.
The Gatekeeper in the previous photo is a male due to the pattern on the upper wings. Wing patterns vary within the genders, dependent on high temperature conditions while the butterfly is in the chrysalis stage of development.
The caterpillars feed on long grasses such as Couch-grass (Elymus repens) or fescues (Festuca) while the adults like the nectar of Wild marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Common ragwort (Jacobaea vulgaris) or Bramble (Rubus fruticosus).
The name Gatekeeper made me remember Sigourney Weaver’s character Dana (who is possessed by Zuul the gatekeeper for Gozer) in Ghostbusters; therefore I have had the theme tune in my head ever since. Thankfully I like this earworm as it reminds me of an enjoyable childhood film. 🎶
In the same border I also noticed Buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) and Garden bumblebees (Bombus hortorum) on a Catmint (Nepeta × faassenii) plant.
On Thursday I was working near a pond and came across a dragonfly which I have been unable to completely identify.
The leg stripes rule it out as a Ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum); however given the position I took the photo from, I can not see the frons (area on the face above the mouth parts) well enough to be certain if it is a female Vagrant (Sympetrum vulgatum) or a female or immature male Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum).
Friday was the opposite of Tuesday, both for the weather and successfull nature observing. In fact during the afternoon in the space of twenty minutes I saw a Large white (Pieris brassicae), Small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Comma (Polygonia c-album), Meadow brown (Maniola jurtina)
along with three Peacock (Aglais io) butterflies.
I managed to obtain a photo of the Comma on a purple Buddleia as well as (finally) manage to capture the elusive Peacock on a white Buddleia.
I had to photograph something else from that garden too. A Chinese trumpet vine (Campsis grandiflora) plant was arching over the wall from the neighbours.
The gorgeous colour of the flowers took my breath away, especially set against the white house and sunny blue sky. I couldn’t resist sharing its beauty.
Lastly I have ended a tiring week relaxing at a cafe drinking a mocha. Once again my spirits were lifted as I watched a Wagtail (Motacilla alba) hoping to benefit from dropped crumbs; it was a lovely thing to see.
Bee in the Moment 