I ventured down the ‘muddy boot Trail ‘ this morning, it needs renaming the dry concrete trail!

This path is A small ridge with lake to the left going into scrub woodland and trees in the right.

I glanced to my left at the very end of the lake was a beautiful muntjac deer standing just looking straight at me. We both stood for at least 30 seconds considering each other . We looked directly at each other ,I moved behind tree and he vanished. Lovely encounter.

Thistles are a great place to stop for food if you are a bee or hover fly .

On Friday I tried to photograph Peacock butterflies at Wicken Fen, they were very good at escaping the camera!

Today in the afternoon sun Peacock butterflies were feasting on Teasel flowers.

It was actually a butterfly parade, I saw peacock , Red Admiral , Green veined whites, small whites , Gate keepers and some quite large blue butterflies up in the tree canopy.

A very early dog walk this morning ( before 6 am) took us on a path called Wilson’s pits , there are some lovely oak trees lining the banks and paths around the lakes that were former gravel pits. They were loaded with acorns.

The air was thick with insects along these wooded paths even though it was early, we didn’t escape bite free!

Coming out of this wooded area you stand on a more open wet scrubby area which has a small number of cattle grazing for conservation on it.

At 6 in the morning this area of scrub looked pretty lovely.

On the very dry cracked soil on the bank were some really tiny teasels , perfect miniatures.

Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) can grow to 200cm the teasels this morning were less than 20 cm.

Feeding time at the lake.

Looking after the family

The summer temperatures are so hot and the ground is cracking and yesterday I noticed that even the stinging nettles were dying back on the road verges , going the same way and colouration as the grass.
The insects have been amazing so far this year and I think that I have definitely had more dead remains on the car windscreen ( I read a report last year that said that windscreens were clearer and that there was a concern over the drop in insect numbers)
Nature table number five has been swirling around in my head and I want it to be a table that reflects the summer.Nature table number four was full of fossils from Aust . Number five will be a summer meadow.

Often when you are out and about your eyes are caught by a swan. They are so commonplace you tend to sweep over them. They are definitely worth some time to watch their behaviours. This morning three males were being aggressive and showing off while a family of swans were nearby. The fast ‘torpedo’ swans were lowering their necks holding out their wings and generally moving very fast. A few months ago I saw a very distressing scene as an older swan seemed to try and drown a juvenile. Eventually the young swan escaped through the vegetation at the edge of the water. Even just watching swans eat is enjoyable and fascinating .

These were ready for eating this morning.It is so Warm that walking past the brambles is full of heady blackberry scents. The brambles are full of visiting insects it’s a busy city of flowers .

Another trip to wonderful Wicken Fen today in the heat .

We sat by the open water with the tips of our toes in the coolness . Above us and swooping in front of us were busy swallows looking like classic summer against the bluest of skys.

Coming out of the reeds opposite was an adventurous baby moorhen who used the water lily pads as his own highway . Later he wondered where his mum and siblings were and they glided over to find him. This little chap definitely had the spirit of exploring .

Lavender is a real draw to insects it is a restaurant of choice. Yesterday it was ‘humming’ with activity so busy some customers had to share a flower!!

I love these skippers somehow they seem full of character ,I especially like their striped antennae.