I have taken people’s advice and I’m slowly recovering. Muscles ache in the most unusual places. Taking advantage of the remarkable spell of weather, most days I go for a short wander up on the fell or call in at Craigy for a chat with the climbers there. My garden is getting a good weeding, in short bursts.
This is a good opportunity to highlight the trees in the garden, as most mornings, they greet me when I draw the curtains. It’s not quite dawn, but this is an attempt to capture the bird song in the trees. Using ‘Merlin’, I counted 15 species in 10 minutes. I do have fields behind the garden. I only wish I could see most of them! Turn the volume up.
House Sparrow, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Song Thrush, Mallard, Blue Tit, Blackbird, Greenfinch, Jay, Goldfinch, Dunnock, Pheasant, Jackdaw, Great Tit.
Whilst out and about, I am pleased to see the return of the Great Crested Grebes, a little late this year. They have built a floating nest, and every time I pass by, the male is out fishing or collecting more nest material whilst she sits tight. One day, I had a glimpse of the empty nest, and there was certainly one egg there, perhaps two; time will tell. 
Catching a picture of my two lively kittens is becoming much harder.
Simple pleasures.
You have much to enjoy right there on your doorstep
Count myself lucky.
And stop singing too 🤣
Those kittens in the second photo look definitely naughty, just hatching a plot?
They are ganging up on me. Most evenings they have a mad hour charging around the house. No back door with cat flap as yet.
Simple pleasures indeed BC. I love the Grebes, I hope they soon produce some young ones. The kittens in the first photo look like they are watching something in the garden – birds maybe? – and Dusty’s little face in the second shot looks so adorable 😊
The kittens are keen to get out into the garden, will need bells to warn the birds.
Keeping an eye on the Grebes – hopefully will get photos of the young on the females back.
That Merlin app is very good. Since using it – after your recommendation on your blog – I’m beginning to start recognising some bird calls. But goodness where those birds hide themselves!
The birds know when you have the app switched on and hide.