BITS AND PIECES 9

I wanted to start today's bits and pieces with this lovely cherry blossom on a tree in the grounds of OB's school. Phone pics I'm afraid but what a beautiful thing it is.

Our fears were not realised regarding the Ten Tors in that we weren't inundated with vehicles! Here is the tent near the road...

Tents in the early morning sunshine in the far distance:

This is the only picture I got of the teams.....those tiny coloured dots in the distance:

And the now extremely muddy tracks they trudged up and down:

Checkpoint Kestor.....

It was absolutely horrendous over the weekend, with high winds and rain. Rather them than me! Here's a Chaffinch with a windy ruff:

Guilty looking Sparrow

The bungalow next to my Mum's is for sale but the owners seem to be neglecting the front patch of lawn which is a foot high with grass and dandelions. Amongst this very depressing sight, I spotted four tulip buds, drowning at the edge. I'm ashamed to say I picked them and brought them home. They were absolutely beautiful:

The cows were right......it rained a minute or two later:

I love the tiny sliver of moorland beyond the darkness of the forest here:

Female Stonechat:

Scut:

Nib:

And the little half sibling of Number 3. I'm going to guess it's female and call her Tertia to continue the theme of three. No doubt the next time I see her, she will in fact be a he like last year. Hopeless. 

Sometimes I feel like the moor is the edge of a different world:

Those posturing colts again:

A snoozy one:

They really don't appreciate the views:

Green triangle:

A posy of flowers I picked for a friend from the garden a couple of weeks ago; I'd forgotten I'd taken this picture on my phone:

This rainbow was a full bow over our little hamlet and the moor but my phone couldn't get it all in:

Two days to go until I'm 50 and today I went on my customary trip to Exeter with a cheque from my mum, to buy clothes. A VERY successful session was had and I was back by 1.00pm to let the dogs out and walk them. The weather is improving and I may even be able to wear some of them on the big day when I'm meeting friends at a local pub in the morning for coffee in the absence of a party; I don't do parties. I have horrible visions of me sitting there on my own.................I'll take a book in case. SO until next time, here are the boys, static for once. Hope you had a good weekend and hello to a few more followers - you are very welcome. 

FIRST FLEDGLING

I can't believe this is the first fledgling I've seen; I've heard them shrieking in the trees, but seen none until this little sparrow today:

There have been a lot of wide open beaks today.

 

The Woodpecker is getting more brave about coming close to the window.

Even daring to turn his back on me:

The sun came out this evening. Everything looks better in the sun.

Earlier today I went looking for Orchids in the marsh AGAIN. Still no Orchids but ponies instead. Will:

Frisky colts:

And a new half sibling for foal number 3 (above right). What a little sweetie. Won't be easy to identify but, given that number three is STILL never far from his mum, this one might be the same. It is very, very tiny:

I noticed these red marks on a wall ladder, which set alarm bells ringing. A near neighbour said they had heard the organisers of the Ten Tors Challenge (see: http://www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk/ten_tors.htm for info) were considering using Kestor as a checkpoint. It has never been used before and the news was greeted with alarm from the few residents close by, us included. 

As I approached the rocks, my fears were realised; there was an army tent pitched and, nearing home, military helicopters were in evidence and support vehicles appearing. The lane which leads to our tiny hamlet is very narrow and is not designed to carry the kind of traffic that will inevitably appear over the next two days as adoring parents realise their offspring will be checking in at a rare point with vehicular access of any kind. We don't have the parking here and the moor will be damaged by cars parking where they shouldn't. I don't want to pour cold water on what is a fantastic event but it seems to be a victim of its own success, with more and more teams participating every year. Helicopters have continued to fly over this afternoon and M tells me there is now what looks like a full field kitchen and medical centre parked on the main path up the hill. A lovely friend is driving me to Totnes tomorrow so I'll be out of the way, but will try and get some photos of the event when I get home or on Sunday. 

So, until next time, have a great weekend and think of those teams of teenagers trudging over Dartmoor.....rain is forecast! Here are my two lovely boys, who won;t be getting their usual walks as we will be living in Piccadilly Circus for the next two days.