Walking round Ardinning Wildlife reserve for a picnic lunch today. The large keep your dogs on a lead signs seem generally ignored. Today a guy’s spaniel took off & quartered a section of moor, 2 curlew going crazy over it. Bloke could not catch or call his dog. Mood: grumpy.

Lots of cuckoos calling this morning, caught glimpse of a few. Lots of other birdsong. Warm, sunny the best of the day and still didn’t meet a soul. Sweet Woodruff and bluebells under the trees. It clouded over a bit, but we saw a couple of Small Heath butterflies. A jay.

Ardinning Early We got there about 7:15 this morning, already 3 cars parked. Didn’t see the occupants. Bluebells & woodruff in the woods. Cuckoos calling, larks and curlew. Still and warm with a bit of a haze. Stonechat, bullfinch. lots of bird song. Dabchicks fishing on the loch.
Lark

Pheasant eggs
Pheasant eggs on path, presumably predated.

Fresh Beech Leaves
Ardinning Arrived before 8. Cloudy, a breeze sun occasionally warming. Comfrey, bluebells, bracken unrolling. Mallard ducklings, a dabchick, a woodpecker. Larks & curlews singing & calling. A couple of ravens. Trees greening, fresh beech. One or two cuckoos. Apple blossom.
Apple Blossom