Cob Kiln Wood

Juvenile robin

I missed the memo telling us that Wednesday was the day everyone has to cut the grass and it had to be done before ten o'clock. The antihistamines hadn't properly kicked in when I went out to do the morning errands, by the time I got home all I was good for was having another shower, changing my clothes and having a nap. And blowing my nose a lot, obviously. I felt sorry for the kids doing football practice on the school playing field while the tractor mower circled the pitch.

Spadgers
A couple of the lads

The nap turned out to be eight hours' sleep. I woke up to the spadgers making representations about the lack of fodder in the bird feeders. There were still a couple of suet blocks I could put out to stop them tapping on the living room window. I watched the highlights of the Test cricket I'd missed and went out for an evening walk round Cob Kiln Wood.

Old Eeas Brook 

The evening choir was in full voice. Blackbirds, blackcaps, robins and wrens almost drowned out the song thrushes as I crossed Old Eeas Brook. Chaffinches, woodpigeons, chiffchaffs and dunnocks joined in as I walked into the wood. A coal tit calling from the willows was the only titmouse to hand. Magpies barged about and ring-necked parakeets screeched their way to roost.

The electricity pylon clearing 

Blackcaps and song thrushes led the vocals in the electricity pylon clearing with support from a couple of whitethroats and a garden warbler singing from somewhere deep in the birch and dogwood scrub in the corner. A great spotted woodpecker very much objected to my passing by.

River Mersey 

I had a look on the river as the sun set. All the ducks had gone to bed, a lone heron stalked the shoals at the far bend.

I walked back in the fading light. Swifts came in to hawk low over the clearing and a great tit joined the evening chorus. It occurred to me I should go home and get my tea.

New moon and Venus