Playing (with) Cricket...

Down at the nature reserve it was oddly quiet. After last week's butterfly count which exceeded a hundred individuals, today there were barely a few dozen. The air crackled with dryness and the woodland pond was totally dry, so I suppose they've fled for damper, um, climes.

In the grasses though there were lots of grasshoppers and crickets. This one is a Roesel's Bush Cricket, I believe. No, auto-incorrect, not a Bish Cricket...

Back in the garden at home, something happened... for no real reason (unless it was Janet being gardenery) a massive release of flying ants erupted from every corner of the garden; from the side bed, from the pond brickwork, from under the hedge at the back... And then they were all gone.