Dull.
I appear to have two Eyebright species on the patch. One species has white flowers all through the season and the other has flowers that start white and then become more purple as the season progresses. I suspected this was the case last year and this year I confirmed the theory by marking some plants to see if they changed. They did.
A fairly numerous moth larva in this heathy area: Spilosoma luteum - the Buff Ermine moth.
I've seen this sort of thing before: half a caterpillar on a rush stem. The head is missing, and I'm pretty sure this has been parasitised and died on the spot.
A record shot of the basal tuft of Purple Moor Grass.
Some small animals follow regular routes or paths. Insects also follow these pathways, either searching for food or a mate. Unfortunately for the smaller insects, some spiders make their orb webs above these pathways.
There are a number of Taphrina fungi that infect the leaves of various trees. Taphrina tosquinetii affects Alder, making distinctive blisters on the leaf. Examination of the underside of the leaf reveals a very wrinkled lower surface: fungi will do almost anything to increase the available surface area for spore production.
I've been following the life-cycle of Cassida rubiginosa - the Thistle Tortoise Beetle. This is the adult. About 6mm long.