A vibrant month

This picture was taken at Bude Park by local wildlife photographer Bill Hipkiss

May is a perfect month for watching wildlife because every species seems intent on feeding, nesting, mating, breeding or raising their young.
Insects are abundant, providing an important source of food for birds, mammals and of course, other invertebrates.
Bats start breeding this month, often in eaves, or behind the weatherboarding of south-facing buildings. Most bat species are garden-friendly, eating the midges and tiny insects that cause annoyance on sunny summer evenings.
Love them or loathe them, cute fox cubs emerge to face the world this month. Our allotments in Hull seem to provide a good life for these adaptable bundles of energy, and they help to keep the rabbits off your cabbages... so they can't be all bad.
Not so obvious, but also around this month, is the Green-winged Orchid; it's most likely to be found locally at Priory Fields. To the non-botanist like me, it's an odd name for a flower that is so strikingly deep purple, but it gets its name from the green veins on the sepals. It used to be very common, but as the grassland it depends upon is so rare these days, alas, so is the flower. If you are lucky enough to spot one, please do not pick it!
So sit back, enjoy the sun and take the time to truly listen to the vibrant life around you. Feel inspired by what you see!