The end of summer
As swallow leave, I return
This summer I found a nest of owls. I was walking along in the rain, which is how I know that it was a long time ago, because most of the summer was drought. I was in a very bad mood and stomping along in drizzle near my house, and the tree started spitting out small owls like a strigine machine gun. It was wonderful, and I spent most of the time I was at home in June and July stalking the juvenile owls as they hung out around their tree stump.
They left in august, though I have heard them in the garden since then. I immediately wanted update my newsletter, but I didn’t. I did warn you when I started I was likely to disappear during school holidays, it’s a problem when you live on a school; it’s hard to focus on work when the people you,live with are on holiday, and asking where things are all the time.
There was also a fair bit of time spent away; just before I found owls on my doorstep, I booked a trip to Skomer (and Pembrokeshire) to see some interesting birds. My son has recently become really intrested in birdwatching, and having waited to capture a fleeting glimpse of a kingfisher, I decided birdwatching is easier more fun if you are literally tripping over birds. Puffins, to be specific.
I have never seen my son so happy. There were puffins, and razorbills and all manner of birds I would call gulls but are apparently not (Fulmar. Tern. Kittiwake)
Another problem with this summer and my productivity was it was very, very hot and I do not like being hot. I am not good at it,which explains why my favourite exercise is swimming. I spent that time in the hammock trying to swing up a breeze and conducting scientific experiments into how many friends I could fit into a small paddling pool (seven). Thankfully that was over before Beautiful Days because being at a festival in 40 degrees would have been awful.
So all in all, it was a proper break, with very little work to report but it was a holiday full of wildlife and I took a lot of reference pictures (both with camera and sketchbook) so I start the new school year full of inspiration.
