More shots from the garden. The butterflies are plentiful at the moment, finally getting to enjoy the summer weather. I spotted this red admiral resting towards the end of the day.
Tonight provided one of the more unusual examples of mating ritual. I’ve photographed this a number of times in the past, but it continues to fascinate. Leopard slugs are hermaphroditic, and both slugs will impregnate the other. To mate, they suspend themselves from a bungee rope which they attach to a wall (or suitable branch), and then entwine. The sex organs then emerge and wrap together forming a translucent fringed bell. Just a couple of shots from a longer sequence.
And finally, a fox. Their behaviour has changed recently. The cubs are dispersing, and the adults are appearing singly rather than as a group. Sightings are less frequent, but Red seems still to be around and was happy to sample the water we leave out.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.