all of a blur

...today was our last day with visitors as early tomorrow morning we will be waving goodbye at Aulla station. Ironic that summer would appear to have finally got going as the temperature climbed nearer to normal at 27C.

The warmer weather has brought our more butterflies, bees, hornets and all the other invertebrates that we are used to both seeing and hearing. The wrynecks have been making their distinctive calls, and the hummingbird hawk moths (Macroglossum stellatarum) have been visiting the freshly opening lavender in our garden. Their little wings beat so fast they are just a blur, and they only spend a second or two drinking nectar at each flower. Fantastic to watch and they really do look like little birds...