jacob's sword

flag iris:-this is an exotic but common plant of marshy places, but very bright and jolly when we see it.
In ancient Greece, Iris was the goddess of rainbows which is why people say my eyes are like pools of liquid (as opposed to solid) diesel.

swifts and martins

you may wonder how we take these photos. It is a family tradition to stand in rivers barking or holding large pieces of wood (tree trunks not fishing rods) and wait for the next bird to fly past.

Jay fleeing

not Sir DA, but unmistakeable nevertheless. They are very shy and secretive and it is the only Jay the boss has ever seen feeding at the bird table. Maybe the news is getting around the OH is a very good spot for a bird's day out. Earlier today, down on the Inny by Beal's Mill we saw the next chap/ess dipping its wing and catching gnats, sand martin? swift?

bull finch

husband and much duller wife. These birds are very occasional visitors. They are not responsible for the bare apple tree. They were followed by an even more furtive visitor.

ragged robin

ragged robin, a plant of marshy ground, not particularly common around here, and a painted lady for contrasting colours all combined in the link no doubt. It was a strange day today, very sunny and humid. Maybe this is why there have been some very unusual visitors to the garden.

demoiselle agrion

Damsel flies, Demoiselle agrion, the male has iridescent blue wings and the female duller copper coloured wings. They are hard to photograph because they won't keep still. The male looks like some sort of alien helicopter or ancient aircraft.

jaws

Harriet is getting very strong; even Mum couldn't carry this slice for long. I am increasingly having to let her have her own way; is this good for me? Or her?

guelder rose

the wild ancestor of the snowball tree, disguinguished by the outer circle of showy white flowers and the dull white fertile flowers in the centre. In autumn it bears bunches of brilliant red berries. And I know there is a birds nest orchid out there somewhere, it will not escape.

Kingfisher

and on a river near you,
only one picture today, or at least 3 of the same thing, the wondrous kingfisher. The boss is no David Attenborough, but this is nearer to what you actually see, a flash of blue, a blur of wings and it is gone. A photo for all seasons.

con trick

same old buzzard, same old post, same old condensation trail making it cloudy in sunny Cornwall.

more comfrey

there is just one clump of common comfrey growing wild. It is very strange how plants seem to prefer one small area year after year. No bird's nest orchids yet but we have seen signs of the fritillary spreading out from where it was released.

nettles

this is a close up of the flowers of a stinging nettle. It is surprisingly complicated for such an unpopular plant. I think these are the male flowers but I am not sure. My rough coat is extremely resistant to the sting but I have noticed the boss's thin skin is not. At the rate we are going the only plant left will be the nettle.

the birthday boy

I think I am quite handsome for one. My best years are to come mind you.

my friends next door

Today I got an enormous surprise, a card and a bag full of fantastic presents from my friends next door Imogen and Eleanor. I must say they are the very nicest people I have ever met. This is a picture of their enchanted house on a bright moon lit night. Harriet and I will stand on the wall and say thank you very loudly.

sister mattie

the beautiful Mattie, dreaming of seeing me again.

news from the ranch

Mattie being wished many happy go aways by her cattle.

happy birthday

.... it is hard to believe this was me aged 5 minutes. Thousands of cards and presents are arriving as I blog. Happy birthday to me and happy birthday to every one in the world especially Mattie, Meg, Vasco, Des, Frodo, Lily, and little Toby

One is a major milestone, now I can join the Army or the police, take my rabbiting test, go into pubs on my own, refuse to see the vet, go for walks on demand ... life has just begun.

hovering

meanwhile, hovering above us was this hefty chap, who I think is a Volucella pellucens, the males are alleged to "hover conspicuously at a height of 8 to 10 feet". They are said to be common but in my one year I have never seen one before.

Joys of summer

Down by the Tamar we saw a kingfisher, twice, once close up and brilliant, once at a distance. Watched over by this heron. To see a kingfisher in flight is one of the joys of life, and there must be fish in the river.

Tiffany by nature

this is the underside of the ever so rare heath fritillary. It turns out that several hundred hand reared butterflies were released four days ago because they had disappeared from this site. The pleasure of seeing and identifying them remains.

And my first birthday card has arrived. I love you Jess. Why is Harriet on the card??

a real rarity

today, as promised, in a field not far from you, and thanks to Cornwall Wildlife Trust (see http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/ and more of this later), the heath fritillary butterfly with the striking orange tips to its antennae.

sphagnum fruiting bodies

the fruiting bodies of this beautiful soft moss, which produce the spores. And who put the h in sphagnum? The Greeks no doubt as in Sphelen of Throy.

hard fern

hard fern emerging. It looks like a bunch of hedge strimmers emerging. Common in Britain but not around here (supposedly, but there is a lot of it about in the woods).

kennels

dead holly tree and my kennel. The place where I was born on 5/6 (when I will be one by the way).

Frodo, Lily, Mattie, Meg, Toby, Vasco, Des and Harriet were born later, probably on another day.

Keep calm, come to my party on 3 June on the village green.

Love Spot

one soon

well, I am beginning to expect the early cards and presents.

LOTS of love
from
Spot who is one on 5/6/2006, repeat 5/6.

That's right, one