According to the metrological office May was the warmest for ten years or so, wish they had told us, as apart from maybe seven really hot days it rained and was cold, we even had the log burner on a couple of nights. Even last night at some point the temperature dropped down to four degrees, but we are hoping the weather will settle down and we can have a decent month.
2nd.
One of the advantages of living this far north is the length of the days this time of the year. The above shots were taken at eleven twenty at night and as you can see it is still fairly light, light enough to see the fields in front of the house and the tips of the trees on the distant hill, only trouble is about four thirty in the morning up comes the sun and peeps through the curtains and the noisy Crows come in to the garden to empty the feeders.
5th.
There was me saying “I hope we have a decent month” in my introduction and our temperature goes down to just three degrees last night and the Cairngorm mountain got covered in snow, not that good a start is it?
Working cutting wood on a cold North Westerly wind is not ideal, but the satisfaction of seeing one(of three) wood sheds full is a great thing to warm the heart up.
As the Sparrows, Robins and Blackbirds are now all feeding young I got a new supply of mini mealworms in and this Blackbird dad is taking advantage of them, here he is with at least 14 worms in it’s mouth and still attempts to add more.
The pond is surrounded by tons of vegetation, including the very large Foxglove in the centre, so many Bunmble Bees in the garden and they will soon be after the pollen from this Foxglove.
8th.
Over in Ayrshire again for a short weekend away, with all the family together, so good as a rare event to get us together.
Went for a half hour walk in the countryside eight o,clock in the morning nobody else around except me and the birds and a surprise in the middle of the walk. The main intention of the walk was to photograph as many plants as possible on the walk. here are a few of the better ones.
A flowering Nettle.
New hawthorn shoots.
The red and white Dog Rose.
Wild Foxglove growing so tall.
A Thistle.
A Fern.
Love Grasses blowing in the cold NW wind.
My favourite Ragged Robin.
Yellow Flag Iris.
As I was walking the path I noticed something to my right and standing alone was this fine beast.
A female Roe Deer
She even let me walk a bit further along the path to get this better shot before she bolted off.
12th.
Went Trout fishing today, caught one beauty, but even more attractive than my fish was this wonderful Orchid.
Then I get home to find the Swallows are investigating our artificial nest by the front door, it would be wonderful if they actually nested there, had the nest in various places over the years and they have never even looked at it before. Below this is our postal delivery box, so I have had to move it nearer our front gate so the Postie doesn’t disturb them.
I am excited about this as most of the other artificial boxes I have put up have either been left vacant, or taken over by House Sparrows, who just fill it with grass in such a messy way.