June 8, 2006
Closer to home
Summer has finally arrived in Orsay! After three days of unbroken sunshine, I decided to take a walk around the block with my camera. A Tree Sparrow (Moineau friquet) finally posed out in the open for me to digiscope - not bad for an 8 year old bottom of the range Kowa!
Along the same wall, this Melodious Warbler (Hypolais polyglotte) posed with a freshly-caught spider.
Perhaps best of all was a couple of Slow-worms just 50m from my front door - only the second time I've ever seen them!
The larger (male?) individual had a firm grasp on the tail of the smaller, and was being dragged around after it - is this part of courtship or seeing off a rival?
On campus, I managed to digibin this singing Serin (Serin cini).
The late spring flowers are finally coming into bloom, including this Pyramidal Orchid...
... a beautiful Bee Orchid...
... and a Foxglove that was practically as tall as me!
