My Flora and Fauna Friday subject this week is the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). The species is found across most of temperate Europe and Asia.
This individual was photographed emerging from a nest cavity in an apple tree at Faddiley near Nantwich in southern Cheshire, England. There is mistletoe growing on the apple tree above the entrance to the nest.
This is also a contribution to Becky’s July Squares: Trees photo challenge.
This week Patti gave use the prompt From Large to Small for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge.
My Saturday Bird this week is the Common Linnet (Linaria cannabina), a member of the finch family.
The species breeds in Europe, the western Palearctic and North Africa. It is partially resident although northern and eastern birds move south for the winter.
The species is in serious decline in Europe with a population decrease of 62% since 1980.
The red breast on this bird makes it a male. It was photographed bathing in an abandoned orchard at Faddiley near Nantwich in southern Cheshire, England in early spring.
My Flora and Fauna Friday post this week is a follow-up of sorts to last week’s post, Bluebells.
This is a male Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) feeding on Bluebells in a cottage garden at Faddiley near Nantwich in southern Cheshire, England.
Found throughout Europe and temperate Asia, in the U.K. it is another sign of spring. The female does not have the orange tip on the forewing.
Flora and Fauna Friday this week is the second part of my posts on the Common Hazel (Corylus avellana).
Last week my post was about the male Common Hazel catkins that produce the pollen to fertilise the female flowers.
This week my post is about the female flowers. The flowers are tiny, the entire bud in this photo is approximately the size of the head of a match. The red styles that form the visible part of the flower are 1 to 3 mm long.
This is my contribution to the Weekly Prompts Wednesday Challenge: Waiting.
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