@QMS
It was a good day in the cactus garden. I only got stuck buy one needle. I believe the lizard is a Western Fence Lizard. The MM selection got a lot of play on my stereo back in the day.

the cactus blossoms are an amazing contrast of soft and spikey
and the hidden lizard is a treat to distinguish
forgot all about Manfred Mann's Earth Band

thanks for sharing all this!

@Bollox Ref
Thanks for a glimpse of London. Is it always that busy on Whitehall?

wandering up a crowded Whitehall

@dystopian
Between the gray and black spotted eyes, long antennea and furry body I think the bee is a Digger Bee.
The Blister Beetle definitely looks much brighter in the sunlight. I too have The Good Earth on vinyl. I just don't have a turntable to play it on any more.

Hi all, Hi SP!

Outstanding photos as always SP! The bee is a native species, not a honeybee (Euro standard type). The antennae are the tip off, not Euro Honey type. The grasshopper is family Acrididae, the Short-horned Grasshoppers. Often the types that show color in the hindwing when they fly. El lagarto looks like Western Fence Lizard (Sceloperus occidentalis). The duck is what I call a Frankenduck. A hybrid cross inbred mutt that is part Domestic white (Peking) Duck, and part domestic Mallard. A frankenduck. Awesome shots man!

I love that Manfred Mann album, it was their best, and their least known. Got the vinyl. First song written by Gary Wright, second two were covers from an Aussie prog rock outfit. Whole album for folks that haven't heard it below. Would highly recommend, five starts. It is a great piece of music.

I can do flora and fauna...

Elada Checkerspot. Of the two long curved orange lines, the right hand one is the distal margin of the hindwing, everything left of that is the ventral forewing. These are an inch or so long.

I posted a pic of this a couple weeks ago, but it stayed on that flower all night, and got better color in some sun the next day. I think it is a Meloid, which is a Blister Beetle, of which you can look but you better not touch. You will be sorry. Methinks possibly Nemognatha lutea.

This is a Spanish Buckeye, which is not a buckeye, but in the Soapberry family.

I thought I was going to see Dynamo-Hum for music...
"and what about you Fauna, do ya wanna?
How bout you Flora, do you want some mora?

I'll let people look that one up, not for the sensitive of ear or sensibilities...

Be well all, Hope it's all good!

@orlbucfan
I must admit I was never a Gary Wright fan.
So glad to hear you're getting some rain.

in spades! Manfred Mann? Haven't heard them in ages. Gary Wright had a great solo tune with "Love is Alive." I have it on something but can't recall what or where. The drought has finally ended in our area. A good thing cos trees, bushes, etc. were parched. Anywho, Rec'd!