Chiff chaff

With the wee ones away and having seen Miss Flum yesterday, we were alone for Easter Lunch so, after church, took ourselves off for a picnic at Presmennan Wood.

Sitting at a picnic table we were surrounded by birdsong -  included the drumming of a woodpecker - but could see none.

We took the path close by the lake (note that it is a lake, not a loch), this was uneven and crossed by tree roots but fortunately dry, in any case I took my stick and kept steady. All along the path were ramsons, windflowers, wood sorrel (see extra, top), spurge and rushes as the path is shaded. On the water little except a heron which flew over and three greylag geese and a single swan. Photo of a chiff chaff we watched singing, courtesy of Mr Flum and his new camera.

After about1.5km the path joins a well-made track on a higher level, which we took for the return. From here we heard and saw three geese in flight, one way and back - it seems they criss-cross the lake frequently at water level or above the trees.

Driving away on our way back four hares ran across the road and disappeared into the field of growing grain We stopped briefly and I aimed the lens in their direction, catching one peeking out (see extra, bottom) and another pair further down the field - what a wonderful sight.

So it was off to a quick supermarket shop and home just in time to watch Gareth Malone's Messiah from LLandaff Cathedral, a most enjoyable celebration for the day.