Blue-tit

 When I wanted to walk to my mailbox and stepped through the door, right in front of me sat a fainting Blue-tit in shock.

He might have crashed against the glass-window or it was the heat, because today its extremely hot.

I took him out of the hot sun into some shadow. I tried to give him some water with a dropper and put his feet in a bit of water as well to help him cool down. 

Finally he flew away, so glad he did!

Swallowtail back!

Today my sister came visiting and suddenly she said: Look, look! come quickly...!!!

There he/she was....The Swallowtail is back! he/she landed while fluttering around in my garden on the verbena. As quickly as I could I grabbed my camera and was able to get a glimpse of this beautiful butterfly.

In dutch the butterfly is named Koninginnepage so I always name her Queen!

Only when summers are very warm they fly up more north from the southern countries.

Back in 2006 The butterfly was here as well and I was able to photograph the whole process of transformation from egg to butterfly (click link here for the transformation series)

It is so amazing to see the whole process...and I am so delighted to see her back!

(Click images for sharper view)

Nuthatch

 This beautiful young nuthatch just sat there ...  a bit looking around, enjoying his view I suppose.

Blackbird sunbathing

 Blackbird is enjoying a sunbath in the grass and has a yummy drink as well.