goldfinch

A juvenile goldfinch. The lack of a red cap is very striking. For the very first time a grass snake was spotted in our paddock, just in time for RSPB wild bird and animal count.

jumping for joy

big H with her puppy substitute jumping for joy because we found some pink bugle today

stinking bob

When the canopy closes in the bluebells begin to fade away as other more vigorous plants like buttercups, ferns and grasses outgrow them. At about this time herb robert becomes much more prolific. Probably named after the Latin for red (ruber), its stems and leaves turn a fiery red as the summer wears on and the doctrine of signatures led to the plant being used to treat a variety of blood disorders. Some people find the smell of the leaves unpleasant hence its other nickname.

lanes

the lanes have finally achieved their full summer livery and the canopy has closed in; just as the sun disappears for another 4 weeks.

bullfinch blues

adding a bit of colour to the niger seed holder. Bull finches are rare visitors to our bird feeders, but this year we have had regular visits from a pair of them. I guess they are nesting nearby. They are very shy birds so it is a treat to get a good view of one.

martinville

meanwhile, round at the front of the house the martins have returned en masse and are quickly renovating or rebuilding the old nests. The pesky sparrows (top right) are intent on stealing the vacant sites but at the moment the martins are winning the battle for once. It has taken the martins a month since they returned to start nesting, presumably because it has been cold and wet and they need to build up their body mass before starting breeding.