Happy families

Sherborne's cygnets growing up fast

Red veined darter, dragonfly on Sherborne Brook

Not a great start to the day as the Bat Cave supplies hadn't been delivered by TP. However Morris and Mike agreed we had enough kit to do a useful days work, so off we went. While Mike and Morris set too inside the cave I was consigned to safety duty outside. Essential but not the most exciting task but at least it was nice weather and this week I wasn't savaged by the flies.

Lunchtime came round soon enough and I set off to see what was afoot at Sherborne Brook. The swan family were situated up by the bridge/weir and enjoying a grooming session in the sun. The Cygnets are growing up fast and starting to flex their wings ready for their first attempts at flying! As well as butterflies {including tortoiseshell} I spotted an unusual dragonfly all nice to see towards the end of summer. Even better the Red Kite family {parents & 3 juveniles} plus the usual lone Red kite came to 'play' flying over the pastures alongside the Sherborne Brook. Quite a sight especially when 2 of the Herons joined in, albeit briefly {must sort out a bigger telephoto !}.

The afternoon got a bit more interesting since Maddie joined the team, and I joined Morris inside the cave to do some serious scaffolding. Mike was on safety duty, with Maddie, plus  'cutting' wood,poles with axe grinder and chainsaw. So in spite of the absence of missing supplies a satisfying and worthwhile amount of work in the Bat cave was achieved. Only downer to the day occurred on the way home when I caught up with the first day's play in the last Ashes test match.