A DISTINCT FOAL AT LAST AND OTHER BITS

I saw this little foal a few days ago but have been so busy, I only managed to get out and look for him/her (haven't got close enough to tell yet) properly today. Not much chance of mistaking this one; I spotted it from half a mile away. I think that looks like a whirlwind on his face so I'm non-sex-specifically calling it Tornado, since we already have an 'Arrow'. Such charming markings. 

Before I got to them, I saw many others. Here's a great example of why I haven't been able to keep track of the foals or their mother's this year:

Whilst chatting to one of my neighbours, standing next to their fabulous pond, we spotted a leech. I know they are still used with great success in modern medicine, but my ideas about plunging in for a swim went by the wayside.

The grass surrounding the pond was alive with tiny, tiny frogs; so tiny I couldn't get the camera to focus properly in macro mode, but you get the idea:

The heat has been getting to us all and we still have no rain. My theory, as I gazed over to North Devon, where storm clouds were gathering, is that the gathered heat in the lump of granite that is Dartmoor, is rising as a giant column, diverting all the rain away. I don't think the Met Office will be knocking on my door any time soon but that's my opinion! You can feel it radiating at night. Snip needs another haircut if this is to continue.

We headed for Widemouth Bay with OB and a friend again on Sunday, where the day was much clearer. I swam without fear of the hundreds of jellyfish we encountered last time and took a few more pictures:

The garden is really starting to suffer. A precious Ash sapling growing out of the top of the Vole wall has died. The grass is browning fast and the water-butt is emptying fast. The geraniums, however, will survive anything it seems. Given my dry shade issues, I try not to water anything other than my few tubs, but, when washing out the compost caddie, the water has been poured wherever it looks most needed. A bit stinky with bits of onion skin, but it does the job. We really don't want to risk the bore hole running dry as it feeds three households here. 

The Jacob's Ladder seems to be doing okay in the dry too:

The butterflies are everywhere but the only ones I can get near are in the garden. This lovely Comma was resting on the hedge: 

I've noticed that very few flowers are flourishing out on the moor. Milkwort should still be going strong but I see barely any. Self heal is around but very stunted:

The Dragonflies are still laying in the boggy puddles where so many expletives are uttered as they escape my macro lens. Pretty soon there will be no water left and their work will be for nothing. Some rain please! This Keeled Skimmer male looked exhausted today and I managed to zoom in on him.

I think the Stonechats are between broods as the males are singing their hearts out. Perhaps they're just avoiding their parenting duties.  

The seed feeder is inundated with young Chaffinches:

Tomorrow is OB's last day of school. He appeared in a play about the Romans last night, managing to be the first to die in every battle scene. I think he just wanted a rest from the searing heat. Posts may be less frequent as I take up my taxiing role and am unable to walk as far due to cries of 'do we have to?'. Six and a half weeks start here. I will look back in a few years and wish for these holidays, so I'm not complaining. Apologies if I'm not as regular in my comments on your blogs; I will try my best. Until next time, here's Snippet disappearing out of shot at speed.