Sweetness

I went for a walk to blow some of the cobwebs away. Birder Neil had told me that a certain track was a good place to spot redstarts, so I thought I would take a wander.

Instead I found two butterfly hunters (hunting with binoculars and cameras not nets) on the lookout for a rare migrating butterfly, the clouded yellow. Actually, they may not be rare: but my friend Kev, a dedicated insect watcher, has never seen one, so he may visit this location.

They were feeding in a set-aside wildflower meadow.

The butterflies kept their distance and kept moving, but I did see them. More notable was the scent: the aroma was strong, sweet, floral, amazing. It was heaven.

I spotted a badger sett, which I surveyed for the Badger Trust, and passed on information about a place where one of the butterfly men might have a chance to see a white letter hairstreak.

Flowers are remarkable creations. Co-evolution with pollinators.... it's like the plant and the pollinator are one being, each can be so reliant on the other.