helenclayton, After thunderstorms and almost biblical downpours I got outside for a bimble near my gîte. So much wildlife here. Saw red-backed shrike, cirl buntings, and heard a number of warblers, cuckoos and turtle doves! No pics but I did manage to photograph insects (and flowers).
Photo of a speckled wood butterfly - a small butterfly that has chocolate-brown wings with creamy-yellow eye spots. There is one black and white eye spot on the forewing and three on the hind. It is resting on the sharp awns of a grass head. Blurred grasses in the background.
Photo of a small tortoiseshell butterfly - a small butterfly resting on the ground with wings spread. The wings are orangey brown with black and paler orange bars on the edge of the fore wings and small iridescent blue dots on the back edge of the hind wings.
Photo of a glanville fritillary butterfly - a small butterfly that has brown wings with an orangey-brown checkerboard pattern. It is resting on low-growing pale lilac-coloured flowers.