The day started, As I expected, but not forecast by the Met Office.  It was as bright and sunny as it could possibly be! I just knew that their forecast couldn't be as accurate as they were saying.  I find it hard to understand why, when they make their predictions they don't qualify the statement with something like "At least this is what we think MIGHT happen" instead of trying to convince us that they know what is going to happen.  The national weather forecast office for the entire UK is here in this city yet they are often WRONG with their summaries! "Just look out of the window" would be my advice and stop trying to tell us you know what's happening, 'cus you don't!

So rant over, I'm glad that they are so useless because the garden at last came to life.  We had a couple of smashing butterflies feeding on the Ivy blossoms. The first was a Comma, (above). The next a Red Admiral, both big brash and beautiful, in the case of the Red Admiral, almost exotic.

Now you can see which is which, here are some more photos to enjoy.

The Comma is interestingly named for that little white "comma" mark on the wings. This butterfly pictured is also rolling up it's tongue which it has just been using to feed on the nectar of the ivy blossoms.  At this time of year ivy is one of the last sources of nectar available before the winter sets in.

So after taking pictures of the butterflies in the garden I went out and about to see what I could find.  Pied Wagtails are very evident at the moment, and I am seeing them everywhere I go.  They are known to move around the country on a "mini-migration" so it is not certain if these birds are residents from Devon or ones that have joined us from elsewhere, who knows. Ringing has answered some of these questions but specifically without ringing and recapture it is impossible to say.

Here is a photograph of a bird that I took this morning.  The light was just absolutely perfect, and this is why this is one of the best images that I have ever taken!

Yet another male Pied Wagtail, from another location.

For those of you that are interested in my Kingfishers, today was a good one! The young female that I am currently studying has been absent from the hide perches since the flood of 10 days ago and I have not been certain of her safety, until today that is.  I have been catching glimpses of a Kingfisher on other areas of the brook but not at my hide.  Without a close look, I had not been able to tell if it was her or not and because of the change in behaviour I was beginning to have doubts about the identity of the bird.  I had placed a hunting camera trap in front of the Kingfisher perch, by my hide this morning.. The hope was to record her if she stopped at the perch without the need for me to sit there literally all day. At around 4 I went back to retrieve it.  Very excitingly, a Green Sandpiper was in front of the hide and when it saw me it flew just down stream. I have to confess that it has been a bit quiet at the hide this last month, so to say I was pleased is an understatement. I quickly came home to get my camera and returned, hoping that I would be able to get shots of the Green Sandpiper. But, at 1735, there she was, my kingfisher.  I caught her on video even though she was there for no more than 10 seconds.   But I was very happy to know that she is back and safe.