On our own again, the morning was warm but we had a bit of a breeze which was most welcome.

We met Dawnie and saw a few walkers but non of our regulars.

I had a good look round, this is a patch of Cuckooflower that I photographed last year it has grown a lot, I like to look at plants I find to see how they have faired - this is doing very well, plus it has plenty of company with odd plants all over the field.

This is Lady' Mantle - it does escape from gardens but this is not the garden one, there are 15 species and without the leaves identification is impossible (I find it impossible with the leaves), I know it is not the garden one and I have narrowed it down to two - favourite is Smooth/Hairless Lady's Mantle 2nd Pale Lady's Mantle.

The leaf this one is hairless with very few hairs on the stem.
The flowers - very tiny and they have no petals - they have 4 oval broad based sepals and leaf like toothed bracts (seen through a lens)

Bush Vetch - taken on the pond field it's all over the place, being so small people walk past it unnoticed.

The little dogs (Todd & Kim) have gone home - they will miss running with all the other dogs, they soon get back into their home routine.

We had dinner out at the Bowling Green it was excellent for the money.

Take Care.

After the thunderstorm yesterday I expect the flowers and grass to be shooting up, they will all be refreshed, the air was a little cooler for the rain.

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I took the Red Clover again as it looks much better this morning.

Arnold & George on the Barrow field.
Could not resist this hover fly on the Hawthorn flowers.

I am pondering this rose as last year I notice some of the rose hips around this area were purple/black. The Burnet Rose has hips this colour and but for the area and size of the bushes. I would say Burnet. Looking for a definite ID - I will make some more enquiries.
Lovely rose - I will give it a good looking at tomorrow.
Found these under an Ash tree - I haven't a clue but maybe someone has.
Lesser Trefoil - tiny little plant.
Had a good day, done our shopping and I have got a bit of work done on the computer.
I always feel better when I complete a bit more of the photo catalogue. These are only the digital ones - I have two full very large boxes of negatives going back over twenty years to go through, oh well that's another day's work.

Set off on our own this morning - thought we heard Debbie and the boys but never saw her. We will catch up next week. We saw Dawnie with Chilli and Blue, they came from the direction we were heading.

These are the very large leaves of Lesser Burdock, it seems to have come through overnight.

The Foxgloves are sprouting.

The white flowers are all Large Bittercress - there are more beyond the trees.

One of my favourites - Yellow Pimpernel - will get a better photo later when there are more flowers out.

Just two flowers at the moment but plenty of buds.

Sue found this Lungwort earlier in the week - I went to look for it today.

The following photos are the ones that Sue sent.

Lungwort in flower

Lily of the Valley
Marsh Thistle
Common Chickweed
We saw a couple more folk, which is unusual as it is Sunday but it was warm so perhaps they were all sat sunbathing.

We had a thunderstorm this afternoon, the rain with was torrential - more flowers on the way as they really come to life with a good watering.

A toast of good health to all our family and friends near & far.

Take Care.

Set off on a dull but warm morning, George had arrived with Tinker and we soon met Debbie and Sue, we had a lot of chatting to catch up on.

All the dogs got on with their play and we walked and talked. Along the way we pointed out things we had seen in the week.

It was warming up by the time we got up to the Barrow Field.

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First new flower we found open was Red Clover.

This is Meadow Fox-tail a grass but I think it's beautiful some of the grasses are really underrated.
The plus for Meadow Fox-tail is it is not very invasive so the fields will not be full of it.
This field will not be full of much apart from new houses before long.

Bush Vetch
A large nest that Sue spotted - we don't know if it's being used.
Sweet Cicely - looks a lot like Cow Parsley at first glance.
We had an excellent walk - the dogs are tired and I have a lot of work to catch up.

Will get this posted and try to do some work.

Take Care.

A bit cooler this morning, we wandered up through Spring Wood from the slippery log end, it was so quiet, I saw the Buzzard perched in a tree - it's been seen a lot of times in this part of the woods.

I only had the compact with me so I did not even attempt a photo. It flew off towards Duxbury.

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Wood Speedwell again, it is all over this part of Spring Wood - never seen so much, it really likes this little valley.

This photo shows it's pale green toothed leaves which have stalks plus the flowers from the leaf axis.

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I am sure this is the same Toad I keep rescuing - it did not bother as I picked it up and it sat on my hand while I took it's picture - as I turned it round it followed me with it's eyes as though to say hurry and put me in the safe spot.

Common Sorrel flower - this field will soon be a mass of red flowers.
This is Green Dock Beetle - yes it was on Dock Leaves it is only about 6mm long.
Two members of the Mucky Neck Gang among the Bluebells.
Another good day, the birds are all busy - plenty coming to my feeders, I have started to put meal worms in my feeder ready for the Sparrows and Blue Tits. The Blue Tits have found them already so have the Starlings but they can't get at them.

A wonderful day.

Take Care.

Another warm and sunny morning, set off on our own again.

We went up Primrose Hill but turned into Spring Wood - it was cooler in the wood and the dogs love the morning smells of all the animals.

Spent over an hour looking at all the trees, leaves and flowers plus some butterflies and other wick things that we came upon. Headed over to Burgh Wood after and walked through part of it, the bikers are using it more so the paths are getting churned up, when this happens walkers start to walk around the mud and of course more of the forest floor is lost.

We made our way toward home but Todd spotted the Big Lodge through the trees and was off to the water, we had to follow and by the time we got there he had been in, I am not bothered about him going for a swim but with the swans on the lodge it is dangerous for dogs.

We were going to the lodge - but Todd took the short cut - Sue had rung earlier
to say that a pair of Canada Geese had 4 goslings.
Here's one of them - aren't they cute.

There was also some coot chicks - there were three but one was among the leaves.
Orange Tip butterfly on Garlic Mustard.
Red Campion
White Campion
Poppy that is spreading all over the valley - must be an escapee it was about last year and more so this year.

Finishing of with the happy family.
We had a good day - went out for a meal.
The dogs were shattered.
Did some work but not a lot.

Take Care.

Another glorious sunny day - no George today as he had an emergency dental appointment, he called round after we had been on our walk. He has an abscess under his tooth - no wonder it's aching, he has to go back so we wont see him till Saturday.

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This is Herb Robert - a delicate little plant that grows everywhere.

Speckled Wood Butterfly - I love the name.
Kim - she is part of the dirty neck gang, rolling in muck is her speciality.
More Wood Speedwell near the slippery log.
Large Bittercress finally flowered near the slippery log.
We have had a good day - I managed to mow the lawn and tidy up a bit, in between playing ball with the dogs.

They are all asleep now and I am shattered.

Take Care.

A fantastic day - the weather was glorious - we did not expect it to be so warm and sunny.

We walked up Primrose Hill, no one about until we got to the Barrow field, the workmen on the building site were about.

This was by the path near the river it is Wood Avens some call it Herb Bennett.

The building site - I took the photo from the Barrow field, hard to believe that I was walking all over that field last year looking for flowers.
This is Thyme Leaved Speedwell - found it on our way home - near the rucks on Birkacre.
Peacock Butterfly it was also on the rucks.
Creeping Buttercup on the Barrow field.
We did our shopping today as it was Bank Holiday yesterday.

It did not take long as we only had two shop to go to.

Take Care.

I have just got some photos off Sue, so I am posting these of the three beautiful pups, haven't they grown?

They will soon be old enough to leave their Mum.

This is Collette the original Mum (well Rhu did all the main work) of these fine looking pups with her puppy - Collette is a responsible breeder and you can see with the puppies that they are healthy, cared for and most important all the homes are good ones.

June with her pup - Another good home.

We all know Sue one of our regular Ramblers, with Billy he will be loved and cherished along with all the tribe.

They are beautiful, I hope Collette & June keep us updated with more photos as they grow.

We will be seeing Billy on the blog.

Take Care.

What a morning, it was pouring down when we set off, met up with Debbie and the boys.

We were out over two hours and it never stopped or eased.

We saw no one else - we were just glad to get home and get the dogs washed and dried. It stopped about dinnertime and the dogs played put for the rest of the day.

I was in the garden - supposed to be doing some weeding but ended up with the camera out, this bumblebee joined me and so I took it's photo.

Ribwort in flower - lovely plant for a weed.
Also found this fungi on an old Ash tree - King Alfred's Cakes.
Todd in hunting mode.
Found this plant the other day - Field Wood-rush
It turned out dry in the afternoon, the dogs enjoyed themselves while I was supposed to be working.

Our Sunday toast to you all.

Take Care.