14th April, over three weeks into the lockdown and we had another beautiful morning, but frosty. I have to keep my eye on the weather forecast in case the temperature drops because of all the seedlings I have in my Greenhouse. I covered them last night as well as put the heater on, they are all looking OK this morning. It’s always unpredictable this time of year.

I was up at six and decided to just do the Markstone Cottages, Melways circuit the sky was clear blue and not interesting light for a sunrise landscape picture, so I hoped to see some wildlife.

I am never sure of what I will see but I spotted a Sparrowhawk near Markstone Cottages, he soon disappeared.  I passed the calves and then all the sheep and lambs, more and more lambs each day. One of the black sheep had a lamb this morning.

As I headed back along the lane to the village there was quite a lot of bird action. I saw a couple of Green Woodpeckers flying into the trees, some Goldfinches, Wrens, Dunnock, Blue Tits, Great Tits, House Sparrows and a pair of Bullfinches which was a real bonus. As I was walking along I spotted a bird on a telegraph wire, I thought it looked like a Swallow and sure enough as I got closer it was. My first sighting of one this year. Always a lovely sight it doesn’t seem that long we were saying goodbye to them. Our world has changed a bit while they have been away.