Work continues whatever the weather, May blog

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We were glad to have the shelter of the yurt with all the short but intensive hailstorms. It was great to hear the hail on the canvas roof. It reminded me of my childhood with the tin roof.

Stirling work by Andretta, who came up from London to take over the jobs I couldn't do with my rotator cuff injury. Many, many thanks! Andretta dug out an area for planting native wildflower plants before helping to plant them.

We continued the ongoing repairs of the bird hide.

The paths were mowed. We changed the labels on the native hedge by the track.

It was good to see the first time flowering of the elder and the spindle tree.

Steve was very pleased to see: A Rhagio scolopaceus. They get their highly specific name, downlooker snipefly, from their distinct habit of perching head-downward on fence posts or tree trunks, waiting to ambush passing insect prey.

Black bryony made it through the winter. The bird cherry looking splendid,

We saw very few butterflies because it was so wet but the male cuckoos sang most of the day. Male cuckoos sing to attract mates and defend their breeding territories from rival males.