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. 

COTTON GRASS & WHITE ERMINE

Out in the marshes, the cotton grass is at its best and magical in the wind. This post is dedicated to Bovey Belle at http://codlinsandcream2.blogspot.co.uk/ .

The Sparrow fledglings are about at last:

The House Martins are canoodling:

Bacon and  Eggs (Birdsfoot Trefoil) are on the menu....also known as Granny's Toenails which are not so appetizing:

And finally, this beautiful White Ermine Moth:

Have a great weekend. Until next time, here's Snippet among the Cotton Grass. 

NEST BUILDING

Yesterday I noticed House martins circling around whilst battling the Hairy Bittercress in the garden and looked up to see them land on what I had thought was a dark mossy patch on our neighbour's house. They're nest building! Very exciting as apparently the previous house owner knocked the nests off at least 14 years ago and they've not been back since. The pictures aren't brilliant but here they are:

Incredible how they seem to be clinging on to nothing. When I went out with Snippet later, I found where they were getting the mud and took this extremely dodgy picture. It would take a few hundred pounds more camera investment to get a better one I'm afraid!

Actually, having blown it up, I quite like it, but I'm probably alone there. 

Isaac and Foal A are the only foals who are bonding. All the others seem to be either alone with their mothers or hanging around with two or three adults. I do miss last year's herd. Foal A continues to be extremely vocal and protective, of Isaac too now. Here they are together....

Foal A...

 

Isaac asleep:

I think this next one is little Bow, but I'm getting seriously confused now. Today I saw yet another black foal who is clearly very new but looks exactly like Foal A. Even if I make a Foal directory I'm going to struggle.

Cows in the sunshine. Some farmers are taking their herds off the moor due to lack of grass. It's still really brown out there as you can see: 

Here are a few sheep studies. Some lambs have been born out here. I found the remains of a dead one today, or rather Snippet did.....

Sitting here at the computer, I'm slightly worried to see no sign of those House Martins today. Perhaps they've given up.....I do hope not. I had great plans for a 'progression of the nest' post! Until next time, have a lovely weekend and here's one of our Magpies on the roof and a Sparrow coming in to land; a complete fluke of course.