Archive images - May 2017
	Birdsfoot trefoil (eggs-and-bacon) in flower at Sandhouse Lane Nature Reserve on 28 May 2017.
	A four-spotted chaser dragonfly at Sandhouse Lane NR, 28 May 2017.
	Orchids in flower at Sandhouse Lane NR, 28 May 2017. On the left is a common spotted orchid, on the right a Southern marsh orchid.
	A speckled wood butterfly in All Saints Leighton Buzzard churchyard, 27 May 2017.
	A hoverfly (Myathropa florea) on a gravestone in All Saints LB churchyard on 27 May 2017.  There is a growth of grey lichen in front of it; the surface is cracking and coloured discs can be seen.
	A broad-bodied chaser dragonfly at the pond in Linslade Woods on 26 May 2017. It has huge compound eyes with nearly 360 degrees of vision and is a fast and acrobatic flyer.
	A prolific hunter in low scrub, the nursery web spider (Pisaura mirabilis) in our garden, Alwins Field, on 25 May 2017. Yes, it has eight eyes - all the better to see you with.
	This mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) was in our garden, Alwins Field, on 24 May 2017. It is a micro moth.
	Red-headed cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis) in Linslade Woods, 22 May 2017.
	A worker bumble bee visiting speedwell flowers at Sandhouse Lane Nature Reserve, 21 May 2017.
	This strange-looking creature is a horned treehopper - the horn is just visible right at the top. Sandhouse Lane NR, 21 May 2017. It is quite small - only about 10mm long.
	A damselfly that has just emerged from its larval skin, Sandhouse Lane NR, 21 May 2017. It is very soft and cannot fly at this stage.
	A handsome but slightly damp male starling in close-up with his crest raised, Alwins Field, 19 May 2017.
	A young starling being fed by dad, Alwins Field, 19 May 2017. Both birds have their nictitating membranes covering their eyes since a sharp beak in the eye could be nasty.
	A green-veined white butterfly (helping to pollinate the strawberries), Alwins Field allotments, 18 May 2017.
	One of the many types of harlequin ladybird, Alwins Field allotments, 18 May 2017.
	Field mouse taking away a peanut, Alwins Field, 16 May 2017.
	A blue tit taking a bath in the pond in Linslade Woods, 14 May 2017.
	A hedgehog had been visiting our garden recently (leaving signs), but this was the first time we'd seen one for over a year - Alwins Field, 13 May 2017. (Taken with flash at night.)
	This robin has been working so hard trying to feed its chicks that it hasn't had time to sort out its feathers; Alwins Field, 13 May 2017.
	A red kite flying low over our garden, Alwins Field, 11 May 2017. (I think it saw me.)
	A small copper butterfly on ground ivy at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, 10 May 2017.
	This is an immature male common blue damselfly at Tiddenfoot WP on 10 May 2017. He will develop more blue colouring as he matures.
	A female brimstone butterfly on red campion in Sandhouse Lane, Heath and Reach, 7 May 2017.
	Early purple orchids in flower in King's Wood, Heath and Reach, photographed on 7 May 2017.
	A close-up of a hazel leaf-roller weevil (Apoderus coryli) in King's Wood on 7 May 2017. It was about 6mm long.
	A large red damselfly at Sandhouse Lane NR, 7 May 2017.
	A nomad bee (Nomada flava) in our garden, Alwins Field, 2 May 2017. Nomad bees are "cuckoos" - they invade the nests of solitary bees (usually Andrena species) and lay their eggs in them.

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