Stalking

There are several cats in the near neighbourhood besides our own two but this is the only one we have see climb our beech tree so easily and with such determination.This boy is bold - he's friendly to us but has yet to assume his position (that of third top Tom) and there are regular sound-offs with Hazel.
However, he really blotted his copybook this morning, when he climbed right up to the birdbox and stuck his nose into the entrance hole, whilst the blue tits were currently building: they, of course, were frantic. So engrossed was he in this activity that he ignored my approach with the camera and I had to shout and wave my arms about to make him move away.
He won't do it again. Mr Flum has cut off one branch and shortened the one he is standing on to a few inches. I hope the birds return.

On a more encouraging note, though I not seen recent evidence of frogs in the pond, this morning there was a nice clump of spawn.

We took a circular walk down from Fairmilehead Park to the Braid Burn, where starry pink cones of butterburr are emerging (extra photo), a few other folk were about but all maintaining a safe distance.