Red Admiral's admirable camouflage

A Red Admiral flew into the cherry tree as I was in the garden. I had seen where it had landed and how it positioned itself head down and as I looked for it I realised how wonderfully camouflaged, matching the colours and patterning of a branch. Can you spot it? If you can't I have cropped a photo at as slightly different angle, showing the antennae. I then made a sudden movement and the butterfly slightly opened its wings, exposing the red marks on its forewings (bottom photo). It had started to rain, and it was much cooler so the butterfly will probably spend the night roosting like that in the tree, well concealed from visual predators.

A wet bee on bluebells

Continuing with the rain theme. Here you have a shot I took earlier of a soaking wet Melecta albifrons, during a brief sunny spell. She was still alert enough to offer me her middle leg (a defensive behaviour of bees and bumblebees) when I touched her.

Shelter and food for a cold leafcutter

I pity the leaf-cutter bees on cold or wet days. They really are sun-loving bees and when the weather is not to their liking they hide in the bee hotel, peeking out of the holes, hoping for the sun to appear. I found this cold male Megachile willughbiella clinging to a hardy geranium flower after a shower a few days ago. Geraniums are one of their favourite flowers, and they also makes a handy umbrella.