Skip to main content

Having a wash and brush up

Over the past few days, during a welcome spell of sunny and calm weather, I have seen some water birds giving themselves a real wash and brush up.  At the end of a long winter I think they were sprucing themselves up ready for Spring, no doubt to impress a new partner, or keep things fresh with their existing one!

Last Thursday morning I watched the two swans, who frequent the ponds on the golf course next door, having a good bath.  It was balletic - Swan Lake in action.  They dipped their whole bodies in and out of the water, scooping their necks and backs in and out in graceful dips and dives.  Then the female rose up out of the water and stretched out her wings to shake the droplets off.  It was a magical display to watch. Sadly I didn't have my camera with me -  note to self!

On Friday I walked with my cousin (who has been staying with us for a few days) around the lakes at Gosford House.  The grey lag geese were in a similar mood to the swans.  However, they were significantly more noisy and less elegant than the swans!  There was a lot of noise, squawking and splashing about, and they were really enjoying themselves.
The whole process was being overseen by two sagely herons, perched high up in a conifer.  Maybe they were also checking out the tree for this year's heronry.
It was such a pleasure to walk in sunshine, with still waters and just birdsong as a soundtrack.  No wind, only peace and quiet.  

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In a vase on Monday - colour

The intense colours in my vase this week come from nasturtiums, sweetpeas and a single glorious zinnia! Their beauty and love of life speak for themselves and need no further words from me! Enjoy!

Colonsay postcards - on arrival

The first thing I do, once we have unpacked our car, which has been groaning with all the stuff we need for a week's stay in the holiday cottage, is head for the outer gardens of Colonsay House. It is a place of wonder for me! I particularly love the leaves of the giant rhododendrons. There are many different varieties, all planted in the early 1930s. The outer gardens are generally overgrown, having had little tending over the decades. That makes them even more magical! The old woodmill falls apart a little more every year, but that's fine by me because I love corrugated iron and especially if it's rusted! And of course the bees. Colonsay's beekeeper, Andrew Abrahams, has one of his apiaries on the edge of the pine wood. So lovely - the hum of busy bees and the heady smell of the pines. We are here - finally! Delayed by four months by the wretched virus, but now I am on holiday! Hooray!

Found items IAVOM

I am on holiday on the Inner Hebridean island of Colonsay. It is my happy place. Thoughts of Colonsay rattle around in my head each and every day I am not here! I haven't got a vase to share this week but some lovely things I have found over the past few days, which are just as beautiful as a vase of flowers! I hope you agree! Here are some leaves of giant rhododendrons, growing in the outer gardens of Colonsay House. Some skeleton leaves of magnolia. The dried stem of a kelp seaweed. A couple of conkers (can never resist those!), and a branch heavily populated by a number of lichens. The air on Colonsay is so clean that lichens flourish here!