WINGS

I've been trying to get this shot of a Southern Migrant Hawker in flight for three years now and yesterday was the day. Not brilliant but not bad. Thank goodness for digital cameras. Below is another Keeled Skimmer I think. It was completely exhausted and would fly a few feet, then land again for some minutes:

As you know I've been failing miserably with butterflies this year. Tiptoeing over the moors like an idiot after little Meadow Browns and Small Heaths who never rest. The other day, my neighbour with the beautiful big garden who very generously gives me many plants, rang to say their Buddleia and hydrangea were covered, so off I went to see the Peacocks, Red Admirals and Tortoiseshells:

And a Small White....wings blown out in the sunshine:

The Marsh Thistle was attracting life again. This time the butterfly had flown completely out of shot by the time the delay had expired. Sigh. A little Honey Bee left I think. 

A rather good looking young Blackbird on the feeder. Certainly better looking than that last one preening itself in the sun. 

Male Sparrow. The porridge still disappears in minutes, even at this time of year:

The Housemartins have nearly finished the nest but I'm not sure if they're resident. I can't really stand staring up at what might appear to be our neighbour's windows for any length of time. 

Obligatory Pipits:

Some amazing evening light:

OB sowed some carrot seed in March but only one made it through the Slug hell of our veg patch. He harvested it, if one can possibly harvest a single item, yesterday:

Definitely organic.

I love it when heather pokes up through the bright yellow of the gorse flowers:

Unknown pony in the sunshine:

When I first saw these in the grass, I thought they were tiny flowers but, on closer inspection, I think they might be fungi, possibly Pleated Inkcaps. I'm really not sure so any input gratefully received. They were about half a centimeter or one fifth of an inch across. TINY. 

Dogs enjoying the sun:

I haven't mentioned OB's Rubik's cube prowess recently and he wanted me to mention that his record for solving the 3X3 cube is 17 seconds now. At the end of term, he achieved level 6 in maths (if you don't have kids of school age this will probably mean nothing to you.....it meant nothing to me until a few years ago), which was his aim throughout the year, and I gave him the promised 7X7 cube as a reward. It really is an amazing achievement but then so is solving this momsa of a puzzle. 4 minutes at the moment but what I love is the fact that he's worked out how to make letters on it. F for his REAL name.....

The meeting with the people down the road about Trigger went well but I am now waiting to see if the lovely lady, who would suit him down to the ground, wants to come and meet him. She's also looking at ponies in local rescue centres. I'm keeping everything crossed as the place is horse heaven and her cob is a lovely calm animal who would keep Trigger grounded. I'll keep you posted. 

OB has as friend here for a couple of days so I've been taxiing them around. Am writing this in a brief respite but it's now time to pack them off to bed. They are currently giggling at some kind of ten year old boy's idea of smuttiness. So, until next time, here are those dogs looking alert having spotted someone on the horizon. Have a great rest of the week.

NEW DOG & THE RETURN OF THE HOUSE MARTINS

45 minutes with the Snippers clippers and what a difference. These are the before pictures:

Too hot...........

He wasn't happy.........

Much better:

Do you remember the muddy patch the house martins left on my neighbour's wall last year? Well, they're back and seem to be finishing the job. Bit late in the season but perhaps they're building it for next year having had their brood. I'll keep you posted. This was a couple of days ago:

These were today; good progress:

A bit shy to start with:

But soon back to work:

I know this is out of focus but I had to show you the multi-bug business going on here with the Large Red Damselfly being joined by these two friends playing piggy back:

I saw this young blackbird yesterday, preening in the sun:

Mmmm - much better:

Obligatory Meadow Pipits:

Another enormous and disturbing looking meal!

Spiders' webs covered in morning dew. That's a LOT of spiders:

Sheep are trying to keep cool in the dusty bowls, previously muddy puddles:

Bees mating:

Couldn't resist those Sword Thistles in the sunshine:

 Craggy Kestor in the sun: 

Today we went down to the river to swim. It was glorious:

We weren't the only ones swimming:

Bracken  wasn't much help pulling him out:

The light was exquisite on the parched heather:

Some people turned up with their dog. It turned into a mad chase and the dogs are out for the count tonight.

Like a very stretched out version of Jack:

Today is the first day of the summer holidays and it's started well. Tomorrow we're off to the seaside if it's nice. Last night I had a dream that I found a kitten in the washing machine being strangled by a belt. I saved it but then kept finding kittens in peril all over the strange and labyrinthine house in which I was staying. Freud would have a field day with that. Have a great weekend and until next time, here are the dogs again.