Went to Ulverscroft nature reserve today. Was considering going up Bardon hill but too hot for both in a day. Herberts meadow bereft of any signs of orchids as couldn't find any stem with seed pods and only found these two on the track through fox covert.

Pulling up poppy plants that have gone to seed and disturbed this. The picture for Google lens was much clearer but then it wasn't waving its head around. Think it's a Buff ermine due to the twin row of cream spots.

Probably a common green grasshopper in the garden. Seen them jumping from the grass. I've been sticking to cutting the grass with scissor shears, as only a small amount hadn't been converted to flower beds, and making it more wildlife friendly.

I should have gone out today, possibly to Saltersford NR in search of Dragonflies, as the promised rain failed to materialize. But while watering the garden I found this Shepherds purse. Mind you I've seen it growing out of the pavement on the street corner a year or 2 ago.

Went over to The Roaches yesterday and gave up as the place was rammed with all the gear oaps hogging parking. Their dogs were better equipped. Went to Lud's Church instead and found this Plums and custard and probably a False Chanterelle. Saw a shrew running through the Church

It's somewhat ironic that if I sound my car horn after 11:00pm I would be breaking the law but it's okay for a road works gang to rip up and relay a road in a residential area for four nights running.

Ticknall Limeyards today. Very overgrown with paths round Dick's Pit inaccessible so had to go over the top to get to the lime kilns that were full of brambles as was the tramway bridge. Spotted Flycatchers on Blackwater but only got pics of Willow warblers and a migrant Hawker.

After debating where to go decided on Willesley wood. Not much fungi though looking at past photos they don't appear until October. Just Lumpy and blushing rosette. Saw a lone Hornet but no sign of a nest. A lone Willow Emerald damselfly and a few Broad leaved helleborines

This will show the liberals who trample on our national flag that we mean business. Oh dear. The zebra crossing at Morrisons demonstrating a lack of awareness of potential symbolism.

Out checking the roses for 2nd generation sawfly larvae that I spotted a few days ago and found this female Large white sheltering from the cold and wet. Then disturbed this Silver Y moth.

Currently on holiday in a self catering cottage in Lockeridge just outside Marlborough 4 miles from Avebury. There's a national trust site on the edge of the village, Lockeridge dene, filled with Sarsen stones and a couple of houses that make me think of Children of the Stones.

West Kennet long barrow today. The burial chamber was initially full of pagans performing a ritual with music from a stone age iPhone and striking a stone age cylindrical steel bell. Quite small inside. Silbury hill smaller than some of the coal tips round Coalville.

Various flowers up at West Kennet Long Barrow. Clustered Bellflower, Field Scabious, Field poppy and probably Greater Knapweed.

After West Kennet went up Cherhill down for the imitation of the Uffington horse and the Lansdowne monument on Oldbury hillfort. Went up a ridge to get the best view of the horse but ended up on all fours getting to the top where it was blustery and started to rain.

While ascending Cherhill down I observed what seemed to be a pair of Whinchats but I was only carrying landscape lenses. Also saw a Red Kite soaring over the fields . Found Harebells, Devils bit Scabious , Eyebright, Meadow Cranesbill and a lone Ladies bedstraw.

No butterflies in the garden but did disturb this dubious foreign invader.

Found an Oak tussock caterpillar by luck just off the drive in Bradgate park

Went into the memorial grove at Bradgate park. Found stems of inkcaps along with false Chanterelles and further around found the inkcaps before they deliquesce and they were Magpie inkcaps in quite large numbers. Only found them in small numbers in Cloud woods before.

Went to Bradgate with the intention of gathering Henbane seeds for a 2nd attempt at growing them using a propagator to start them off. Also some Deadly nightshade berries. Found only a few Henbane rosettes,no full plants. Likewise only 3 nightshades without flowers or berries.

Highlight of the day playing ball in victoria tower south garden next to parliament with a spaniel who hadn't read the memo about London dogs being unfriendly.