Orb Spider

A doing day - washing, ironing, gardening etc.

I checked out the house martins this morning. When I left for my trip to Holly 12 days ago workmen were back on next doors scaffold, this time replacing all the rainwater goods, and at the same level and only an arm stretch or so from the nest. I wasn’t too hopeful. However, when I returned yesterday the scaffold had gone and the birds were busy feeding young who look as if they might fledge within the week. Remarkable.

Whilst observing the nest I noticed an orb spider sitting in the middle of a web attached to the surrounding ivy covering the fence. So that’s my blip, with as an extra an adult martin perched very briefly on the edge of the nest. The surroundings of the nest leave something to be desired - I cleared up the droppings underneath this morning, and I’ll need to do it again. The price to be paid for their presence. I’m OK with that, nature isn’t tidy. However I suspect the birds keep the interior of the nest very clean.