Ampthill Fields - north of St Andrews Church.

The lack of posts this past week says something about just how busy I've been. An opportunity for a walk early this afternoon was seized like a drowning man gasping for air!



This tree makes for a very dramatic image.



And here's a close-up of the hole at the top of the trunk. Can you spot the Green Woodpecker? The way in which they play hide-and-seek with passers' by never ceases to amuse me!



I love the variety of flowering grasses that start to appear at this time of year. It's so easy to pass by without noticing them. Here's Meadow Barley...



Yorkshire Fog...



Cocksfoot...



and Meadow Foxtail.



Several yellowhammers were singing. This male seems bemused by the antics of the chaffinch!



There are a lot of Early Bumblebees (Bombus pratorum) around at the moment. The orange-red tail is a bit of a give-away.