Frequent rain showers.
The 10-spot Ladybird is always tricky to photograph. About 5mm long. 1000 bonus points if anyone can id the plant.
I watched this little (12mm.) mining wasp - Mellinus arvensis - as it cautiously approached a solitary bee's nest. After a couple of aborted attempts it warily ventured inside (second image) and emerged after about 20 seconds. Turns out it's a male looking for a mate.
Cheilosia illustrata is one of the Bumblebee-mimicking hoverflies. I think it's generally a bit too slim to be fully convincing.
The Enchanters Nightshade is lasting well this year with the spikes growing much taller than usual.
Hogweed seeds - in common with a number of the Umbellifers - go through a transitional state where they appear to look like beetles.
Another new hoverfly for the site: Meliscaeva cinctella.
Fungi are beginning to make an appearance as the rainfall continues. This is the earthball Scleroderma citrina.
Last week I showed I showed seeds of Red Valerian. These are Common Valerian - Valeriana officinalis - and show a distinct family resemblance.
I haven't fully made out what this ant is carrying. I think it might be a froghopper nymph. All I could see with the naked eye was this tiny yellow dot being carried along.
This grey muscid is very numerous in woodland edges. An unpleasant-looking brute.
A micromoth - Udea lutealis - that is common everywhere at the moment.
Purple Loosestrife - Lythrum salicaria - caught me by surprise. I haven't seen it anywhere near here before.
A welcome addition.
This is another Tachinid - Dexiosoma caninum. They perch on leaves and leap at any passing insect, returning to their perch if unsuccessful. They are parasitic on various ground living chafer larvae.