Summer Cocktail with a Dash of Fred and Ginger!

Continuing with photographs from some of our recent outings, I saw the above lovely Song Thrush on a garden wall when we visited a nearby small town.

In a local park there were lots of Magpies about, often hopping around on the ground looking for any scraps of food they could find.

'The magpie, lighting on the stock,
Stood chattering with incessant din:
And with her beak gave many a knock,

To rouse and warn the nymph within.'

(Jonathan Swift)

This extremely tatty looking Pied Wagtail was busily scurrying around in the grass.

'Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,
And tittering, tottering sideways he neer got straight again,
He stooped to get a worm, and looked up to get a fly,
And then he flew away ere his feathers they were dry.'

(John Clare)

This Squirrel, which I think may be a young one due to its quite slight appearance, was just about to climb a tree.

'Come play with me;
Why should you run
Through the shaking tree
As though I'd a gun
To strike you dead?
When all I would do
Is to scratch your head
And let you go'

(W.B. Yeats)

Resting on the grass was this Rabbit who didn't seem too worried about having its photo taken.


I saw these Rose Hips in the hedgerow and was amazed by how large they are this year, they look more like tomatoes!


On a similar note, I have been very struck by how early the hedgerow fruits have ripened this year, to illustrate that, this photograph of Blackberries was taken on July 7th which must be the earliest I have ever seen them at this stage of ripeness in my area.

'My berries cluster black and thick
For rich and poor alike to pick.

I'll tear your dress, and cling, and tease,
And scratch your hands and arms and knees.

I'll stain your fingers and your face,
And then I'll laugh at your disgrace.

But when the bramble-jelly's made,
You'll find your trouble well repaid.'

(Cicely Mary Barker)

I have been really pleased to see more of the Painted Lady Butterflies lately which so many people seem to have seen in huge numbers, the first is in slightly more pristine condition than the second.

'Thou spark of life that wavest wings of gold,
Thou songless wanderer mid the songful birds,
With Nature’s secrets in thy tints unrolled
Through gorgeous cipher, past the reach of words,
Yet dear to every child
In glad pursuit beguiled,
Living his unspoiled days mid flowers and flocks and herds!'

(Thomas Wentworth Higginson)

I also saw

Small Tortoiseshell Butterfly

and this

Six Spot Burnet Moth

This pretty Robin posed nicely for me


I saw this Mallard on the side of the canal


and on a pond in a pub garden where we stopped for a glass of wine on the way home I saw more Mallards.



Finally with apologies to Irving Berlin I saw these Mallards

Dancing beak to beak!