Happenings

 Sunday June 18

We're keeping one or more Moorhens well fed at the moment. One adult and definitely six young. More than one family? They've learnt that feeding birds means food drops to the ground and they leg it across the garden. So gawky. Teenagers whose legs look out of proportion and out of control. The resident Garden Warbler continues to sing loudly and regularly. At first a joy, now, an irritant by the time the day ends.I still haven't had a good view of it, let alone a photograph.

On the way home from Natural Surroundings, we came across an irresistible photo opportunity in a roadside dyke.

Moorhen

Male Tufted Duck

A pair of Tufted Duck

Garden

We continue to eat delicious new potatoes. Adrian has planted the well grown Peas, Runner Beans and French Beans. The latter are a climbing variety, the well known Cobra, this year. Easier for Pam to harvest.The Leek and Sweetcorn plants will be put in on Tuesday.

I gutted my very first Alpine Trough, left it for a week to settle, then yesterday, with Pam's assistance, topped up the planting medium - a mix of compost, sharp sand and alpine grit - before placing the weathered tufa rocks and some new plants. No flowers showing as they were all cut off. I have to be careful not to overplant, they soon grow - and I want to plant some bulbs in the Autumn.

Moths

With warmer weather, we continue to get new moths for the year daily. Other members of our moth-ing group are catching some good species for Norfolk. Richard had a Pale Shining Brown this weekend and a Splendid Brocade. We all enjoyed viewing a Rannoch Looper last week. A moth I'd wanted to see since first reading its name in a moth book. Not spectacular looking but a super name.

Oak Hooktip

A micro - Garden Grass Veneer 


Willow Beauty

Bird's Wing

 

Cooking

Steak and Onion Pie

 


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