Birds, Bugs & Butterflies

The irridescent Beautiful Demoiselle

Rose chafer beetles are beautiful to look at but destructive

While my focus was inevitably on plants, we saw some wonderful birds, insects and butterflies.  Problem is, few of them settled long enough to be photographed, so you will just have to take my word for it.  Highlights included several Lesser Spotted Eagles, a  Goshawk, Nutcrackers and a Black Woodpecker which is 45cm long with a splash of bright red on its head.  The star turn in the butterfly world was the Purple Emperor  – a beautiful creature that reveals rich purple iridescence when it opens its wings.  One of the pleasures of this type of holiday which covers both flora and wildlife is that there is an opportunity to learn about things other than your own particular interest. www.naturetrek.co.uk