29th June 2025 - morning

I’ve had my mind on my Kestrel encounter from a few days ago, how his head stayed perfectly still while the rest of him moved with the wind. I observed the same phenomenon today in the large solitary trees on the Common. One side remained perfectly still while the opposite so was being gently buffeted by the breeze.

I’ve been watching the water lever slowly drop on the large pond on the North side of the Common. This is happening simultaneously with the reeds exploding into life and crowded what is in Winter a wide viewpoint across the water. On a clear day with a cyan blue sky and the backdrop of the Church, I can imagine I am living one hundred years ago.

I took a friend for a guided walk today. I was pleasantly surprised at how far my knowledge has come in recent months - I was able to ramble on quite nicely for an hour as I pointed out this and that. It’s a wonderful feeling to share simple things like how to dusting between a Wood Pigeon and a Collared Dove - the ‘ar-sen-el’ three note song of the latter versus the ‘my toe is blee-ding’ five note delight of the Wood Pigeon. My ears never tire of either sound.

A Garden Snail (Cornu aspersum) making his way across the path ahead of me this morning