Wildlife in the garden (and house)

Hi – these pictures were taken sometime in the last week or so and not all on the same day. Apparently Britain’s insect population is struggling with the recent wet weather. (Bees, wasps, moths and butterflies.) Although I think there have been fewer wasps, butterflies and wasps in the garden we have had two swarms of bees “park up” in the garden. The other day we saw loads – well 50 plus – dragon flies flying around the garden. Which is a little surprising since our “pond” is only around 2m² . A couple had the misfortune to fly into our living room – which has windows at each end – with only the windows at one end being open-able.

The good news is that my wife was a dab hand at dragon catching dragonfly catching. She used a large vase and managed to get them pretty quickly and then out before they flapped against the glass for too long.

I only have pictures of one of the dragonflies as I was elsewhere the second time around.

A dragonfly being rescued from the living room

The colours are really striking and the wings so fine.  apparently they are highly corrugated.

A dragonfly being rescued from the living room

I was surprised that the pictures came out OK since the dragonfly was moving and the vase glass was not exactly expensive optical glass.

A dragonfly being rescued from the living room

And finally we had a baby hedgehog do a runner across the lawn – it was sufficiently fast that by the time I had gotten my camera it was into the flower bed.

And finally – the rain has been good for something – Sunflowers.