I was trying to find the collective noun for a group of cattle egrets. Often you get congregation of egrets or a wedge or a skewer but from New Zealand I found they called it a stampede– so that is what I am going for! Why this debate? Well it was the monthly bird survey out by the river this morning and we saw nine cattle egrets– the most I have seen in this country! In the last 10 years more and more are in the UK and I should think they will mirror the advance of the little egret across the country. A few pictures of them that I took are at the bottom of the blog- couldn’t get all nine in- guess why they are called cattle egrets!! Other highlights from this morning were migrants moving south- a couple of wheatears, six yellow wagtails, plenty of swallows and a whimbrel. We actually saw three species of wagtail  (8 pied and 2 grey), as well as many curlews, avocets, godwits, shelducks and 100+ black-headed gulls on the river. A good morning!

The morning was rounded off with Clare and I cycling to Nailsworth for lunch (we were apprehensive about the forecast but it stayed dry).

A traditional family day today. My sister’s sons have organised a meet up at the miniature railway park in Cardiff. It is always a lovely day catching up with my wider family. Everyone has a ride on the trains! It was hot! I managed to pick two containers of blackberries this morning so more blackberry and apple crumbles to look forward to!

Had a fast cycle over the top on Sunday before it got too hot!

Despite the result on Saturday it was a really good game of football and it was certainly the best the Mighty Hatters have played this season. We are having a Hatters meet up this week at Stroud Brewery at least three of us will be there possibly more!

Currently on a slow train back from London after a good day meeting up with dear friends. Legs are tired now!

Had a good creative meeting last night with Dan as we plotted the next Two Severn Bores show. Much work to do both writing, learning and rehearsing!

This amazing bird turned up in Frampton yesterday (not my picture). It is a black-winged kite and only 3 have turned up in the country ever! A friend messaged me last night and I managed to see it. I went again this morning and just missed it but my goodness it was a real Twitch with birders from all over the country- it was at 7 in the morning.

The Two Severn Bores have been working together tonight on our next show. It was a really positive session. I will publish details when we are happy with the potential performance.

Just as I turned for Frampton in the early hours of the morning I got a warning about tyre pressure on the car’s dashboard. So it has been an expensive morning sitting whiling away the hours as new tyres were fitted. I was of course coming home from football and a welcome win for the Mighty Hatters. Although indebted to our excellent goalkeeper it was a much improved performance and we were beginning to click in the second half. I am tired now after a late night and this morning’s hanging about!

It is my Book Club tonight and it a planning meeting where we decide on our books through to next summer. It will be a good night!

Apologies but I inadvertently deleted yesterday’s blog about seeing the goosanders and the football. Don’t think if you haven’t read them you have missed that much!

We got home from our weekend in Yorkshire that apart from the disappointment with the football we had a good weekend camping by the River Aire. We stopped off today at Dovestone Reservoir close to Saddleworth Moor and walked around it- you can tell we are experiencing a drought! A picture below. Also a pair of  swallows on a wire. I’ve also put yesterday’s picture of a goosander because there are great ducks!

We have just come back from watching an outdoor performance of the story of Edward Jenner in the grounds of his house, He is an amazing person and it could be argued our greatest Briton for the millions of lives that have been saved because of him.

We are off North tomorrow- we are camping near Bradford. Surprisingly The Mighty Hatters are playing there on Saturday! Fingers crossed! We will be visiting a museum, a gallery plus a bird reserve over the weekend.

Last night I went out searching for meteors as part of the Perseids Showers. Gradually as my eyes adjusted I caught a couple of flashes in the sky then I had a couple of flare like meteors directly over my head that illuminated the sky. Finally I saw one with a long tail shoot over. Not my picture below but it was just like this one!

Phew it is a scorcher! We popped out early this morning to get a ride in before it got too hot! I will do the same tomorrow. We joined my fellow Hatter Mick and his wife Kath for lunch at Stroud Brewery (originally we had planned to cycle there.)

It was a super busy day yesterday. I was story telling at the Farmer’s Yard in Arlingham first thing then umpiring for Gloucestershire Seniors (still not fit enough to play). My story telling was with a very young audience which was fun!

The title refers to football and the Mighty Hatters. They won away yesterday and although far from the finished article they looked much better. That is now two and two so will take that. We have tickets for Bradford next weekend- fingers crossed for the same result when I last visited there!

Had a lovely cycle on Friday with a friend around the Cotswolds beyond Cirencester. hamstring still niggling but managing the rides but avoiding playing cricket- I am actually umpiring tomorrow instead of playing! So a busy day ahead- storytelling in the morning and then a dash to the cricket.