Little Owl on the Heath

Linda and I are part of the rota that unlocks Hemblington Church every morning. The short drive takes us along hedge-lined farmland which holds a surprising variety of birds and insects. Today I noticed one of the resident Little Owls as I drove home, so I returned with my camera and grabbed a couple of photos. Initially it was rooting around for worms on a large manure heap in company with a group of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. When disturbed by a PO van it moved to an old barn - possibly its nest site.

Arise Sir James Anderson and Sir Joe Root!

Well done the England cricket team, breaking all kinds of records since Ben Stokes became captain. Shame the BBC is so totally tennis obsessed (despite an almost complete lack of home interest) that we are 'treated' to just an hour's highlights at random times in the evening.

Incidentally: the authorities are - quite rightly - investigating reports of racist taunts in the crowd. I hope the TCCB will also take a look at Kohli's unacceptable harassment of the England openers yesterday....

Sorry: it's the Moon again!

However, in justification, the crescent Moon is beautifully placed in the sky just before sundown: even a small telescope or pair of binoculars will show remarkable detail of craters, maria basins and mountain ranges...

Triffids!

Well not really: this is my 'outdoor' insectivorous plant collection, which seems to be flourishing this year. Possibly it was the mild winter, or perhaps there are more insects about, but the pitchers and Butterworts in particular are doing well. The Sundews and Venus Flytraps are just hanging on, but are showing signs that they might perk up.

The Sun & Moon: always worth a look.

At twilight last night the waxing crescent  Moon hung over the rooftops to the west, while this morning the Sun rose into a cloudless sky, revealing just a single small sunspot...

The delightful wedding of one of my old pupils!

Yesterday, Linda and I were invited to the wedding of Ellie and Alex at Fishley Church, near Acle. Ellie is the youngest of three sisters, all of whom I taught twenty-odd years ago at the nearby primary school. Ellie's father, Paul, was the bassist in Serious Risk, one of my old bands, and he and his lovely wife Penny have been friends of Linda and mine for over thirty years.

It was a real pleasure to meet the three girls and their families again, after the three year Covid hiatus: wonderful, too, to spend the afternoon with another ex-pupil, Emma and her charming husband Charlie. Twenty years since I left teaching, it's rewarding to discover that I made an impact on some of my students!

Dawn start at Strumpshaw Fen

If your reason for visiting this reserve is to see wildlife, rather than do a bit of 'den building' or 'foot dipping', then an early start is essential. I was hoping to finally add Goldcrest to the yearlist, but it wasn't to be! However, the early start was rewarded by close views of a pair of Chinese Water Deer fawns and an Otter, as well as decent shots of Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcaps and so on. A Barn Owl was hunting the meadow, but was always at the opposite end to me! I did finally catch up with a Spotted Flycatcher in the gloom of the woods.