Summer Flowers

Our walk this morning, took us along the old mineral railway lines of the West Hallam mine, what we now refer to as the 'Donkey Walk.'

All along the walk, our senses were assaulted by the intense yellow of the Ragwort and Perforate St. Johns Wort. Vast quantities of both, seem to have burst into flower all at once.

It has been a very good year for wild flowers, especially those of the Vetch family, particularly the deep blue of the Tufted Vetch.

The Pea family is always well represented in the English countryside and they always deserve a closer look. These Red Clover flowers are easily overlooked, but are rather gorgeous.

As well as the flowers, there have also been lots of insects about this year. At the moment, these little, iridescent beetles seem to be on tree leaves everywhere. They are a type of Leaf Beetle (sometimes called Flea Beetles) called Altica palustris.

Back home and we're still being visited regularly, by families of House Sparrows, making the most of the seed we're providing. This little one was still displaying the yellow 'gape' which encourages the parent birds to feed it - even though its quite capable of fending for itself now.

More summer colour to come no doubt!