It's a dog's life

The Safari was on dog-sitting duty today for a friend so only the very briefest visits to Patch 1 where we did get a Whitethroat for the Walking Tick List which now stands at 84. The male Sparrowhawk belted overhead carrying a small prey.

Frank is a dream compared to Ozzy who is spoilt...lovely dog but he can be a nightmare...don't you have to be asleep to have nightmares? No chance of that with Ozwald in the house!!!
Ozzy's stablemate, Lucy, is such a well behaved dog in comparison, even better behaved than Frank.
As you can see we spent a lot of time out in the garden at Base Camp where we enjoyed a warm sunny day.The gulls told us a raptor was about, looking up we saw the cause of all the squawking - a Buzzard (WT#85). Yesterday we had a Wren that just didn't shut up, today that honour was taken by a trio of Blackbirds, one of which was in 'our' Sycamore tree.The Crab Apple tree we have is just bursting in to flower. There weren't many insects about. Our first Speckled Wood fluttered against the kitchen window, and we noted a small number of Red Tailed Bumble Bees. A few Drone Flies hovered between the Crab Apple and Silver Birch trees. Closer inspection of the above photo showed there was another species of hoverfly present in the garden - no good at hovers - any ideas anyone.Spent a bit of time looking at the flowers. Shepherd's Purse is an abundant 'weed' in both the borders and the pots. Not often this tiny species is photographed, certainly the first time the Safari has attempted it.

Herb Robert also grows as a weed, Wifey doesn't like it but it must be the foodplant for at least one of the moths that visit Base Camp. Cowslips are a bona fide wildflower but ours are bought in and have spread like wildfire. So how come they are so scarce in the general countryside round here...only on motorway verges are they numerous - but planted - and up on the limestones further north.

Unlike the Herb Robert Wifey likes these petite Forget-me-nots which also grow as a weed in the garden - no we don't pull them out.

Overnight rain makes the Lady's Mantle look its best. A native wildflower but round here is a garden escape and boy does it escape. Bonny little chap...

We think this is a hybrid Pansy we have 'grown' ourselves between Marks n Sparks Chocolate Violas we grew from seed a couple of years ago and a bog-standard yellow variety.
So there you are my chums a quick spin round the 'estate', all 50 feet of it...and Stu, you're not seeing the innards of the garage...opened the doors this morning and a ton of stashed cr*p fell out on top of me!
Where to next? Today's missing safari to Zilch Alley and Pipit Slab early tomorrow morning followed by footy and the small matter of a play-off place to be won!
In the meantime let us know what's about in your campsite this weekend.