We had a delightful walk this morning and we were serenaded by several warblers. Many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs were around the lake in Frampton. Also heard the explosive burst of song of a Cetti’s Warbler as well as the evocative call of Curlews flying over us. A picture of a Cetti’s below isn’t mine they are difficult to photograph. Also had a good view of my first Willow Warbler of this Spring.

Next week I am doing one of my Story Bird Walks at Tuffley Library.Just hope the weather is OK!

Bitterly disappointed by tonight’s football although the Hatters drew it felt like a defeat- we do need three points at this stage of the season!

We had an all day rehearsal for the community play we are putting on this month. sadly the virus is having an impact and we were missing several key figures today. We will have to keep our fingers crossed.

A topsy-turvey game at the Theatre of Dreams yesterday. We were out fought in the first half but we were more like our old selves second half and missed a couple of good chances. We did well to come back after conceding a late goal

Life goes back to normal tomorrow with football to watch again after a fortnight off. I am off to watch the Mighty Hatters again and hopefully another three points. Millwall are one of our bogey teams so fingers crossed!  It is getting tense now still keep pinching myself about our league position.

You will notice I have avoided mentioning cricket after the Test matches, hopefully the England  Women’s team can win the World Cup on Sunday morning.

I was relieved to see my first Sand Martins yesterday I have been looking regularly for the last week or so.

Enjoyed Story Telling last night.

The picture above should of been in the last blog In Search of Wheatears forgot to put it in! I hope you get a feel of how desolate it was!

Slightly different this morning as I was out by the River doing our monthly Bird Survey and saw the Tide come in-always a fascinating watch and never the same! It was really cold but at least it was dry. 88 Curlew, 27 Redshank 4 Oystercatchers , Jack Snipe were some of the highlights. Ironically saw my first Sand Martins and Swallows this morning when it was so bitter. I also did my weekly bird watch at Wick Court with young people from near Vauxhall. They were pleased to see a Chiffchaff. I am Story Telling for them tonight.

A dank damp day here in Frampton. A busy domestic day catching up on chores and admin. I went looking for migrants late afternoon-not a great success. I went to Saul Warth  right by the River on my bike. Sadly it resembled a desert apart from a few Rooks in the field nothing on the River apart from a vast expanse of mud! (picture below). Where are the Sand Martins and the Wheatears? I will keep looking!

Decided that the Supertramp song is just right for today’s title as I think it is back to normal here! I have been on the bike for the first proper ride since covid hit us! Obviously will take a while before I get my fitness back but wonderful to feel physically tired again!

I did manage to get out to a rehearsal yesterday afternoon but we were short on numbers because many people have succumbed to the virus. Sadly numbers are high in South West. 

Back to Story Telling later this week and hopefully to start planning future gigs.

Still haven’t seen any Sand Martins! I might look for Wheatears  tomorrow near the river.

Well that song title matches today’s weather especially as I am now able to go out! I still haven’t seen any Sand Martins and I have been to look (twice today) . The picture of the Chiffchaff below is the best I’ve seen migrant wise and many of them now stay here for the winter.( Much better picture than the one I took a couple of days ago.) The other picture greeted me on the lawn this morning!

I am avoiding all mention of cricket in the interests of my blood pressure!

I’ll steal the immortal lyrics from Me and Bobby McGee for today’s title because guess what? I was negative this morning! So freedom! Technically I need to test again tomorrow before I go anywhere with people. The picture of the Tufted Duck below shows I left the garden earlier!

Managed to get the Starling picture earlier in the garden- they are attractive birds when the light brings out that iridescence- think if the sun was at a slightly different angle it would of enhanced the colours even more.

                                          .

Well I suppose the words same as same as sum up life here. Have been lucky there has been some cricket to watch-the Pakistan- Australia has been fascinating over the last few days and now we have England to watch as well.

Beginning to feel better and testing tomorrow to see if I can go out into the big world beyond our garden. Clare is just beginning to turn the corner. Glad we have been vaccinated because I would hate to think how poorly we could of been. As someone with mild asthma that would of been a worry.

Slowly learning my lines for the play-our next rehearsal is without scripts! I might be able to think about how I move on stage.

A Chiffchaff I have heard a few recently hope to get a better shot in the next couple of weeks.

The sun is shining,, leaves are coming into bud, flowers are blooming. The Frog Spawn is pulsating and shimmering with life and a few tadpoles have already broken out. I have of course plenty of time on my hands at the moment and I keep walking round the garden. I will do another test on Thursday/Friday to see if I will be able to  break out of isolation!

Anyway some random pictures from the garden today.  I missed the Coal Tit!