comfrey, alive, downton abbey filming, it takes you back

 

A comfrey hybrid, a ladybird, the Downton Abbey church - and more.

The green lane is alive with green, and with colourful flowers.

And talking of DA, there was some filming going on this week, although I didn't see it. By all accounts it didn't last long. Probably some second unit stuff. The first feature film didn't have much of the village in it and perhaps the second will be the same.

Not like when they were making the TV series - I well remember being curious about this new unknown programme back in 2010: 

https://justthoughtsnstuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/returned-to-bampton-this-afternoon.html.

great spotted, cheep, singular, diy, sighting, the bird has flown

 

I was alerted to the great spotted woodpecker's nest on the edge of the village by a friend in mid-May.

Although I couldn't see any sign of the chicks at that stage, I could hear them (link below).

At least I thought it sounded like there was more than one. Recently, though, the cheeping got louder and singular. How disturbing the natural world can be!

Looking at the hole, I began to wonder whether chicks ever got too big to get out... But then I suspected I was imposing my own DIY and construction skills. The woodpeckers have it covered.

Yesterday, I caught sight of the chick.

This morning the nest was silent and I imagine it has flown!

--

Listen to Great spotted woodpecker chicks.m4a by Frank Egerton on #SoundCloud

https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/6rWQQ

striking, intense, rain, behind with the garden and allotment, 'normal', crafty

 

A striking sky and an answering intensity in the field of young corn where the larks sing below where once was RAF Bampton Castle Signals Station.

Since this photo was taken, a week or two ago, there has been more rain and the lushness of the landscape continues. Only today does the sun shine with the strength one might wish for.

We're behind with the garden and allotment but are hopeful that we might catch up next week.

Also keen to get back to 'normal'. But what a crafty virus we're faced with.

bird's egg, scene of? ..., mystery of the victorian cabinet, cabinet of mysteries (though with labels, if only it could be found)

 
Bird's egg seen in the Ham Court green lane.

A place of life or of death? Of a successful hatching or of predation?

I hope the former.

I don't know what bird's egg it is, I'm sad to say. Was never very good at identifying eggs. My dad knew and once had a collection. Somewhere, I don't know where, I think we have a Victorian cabinet of eggs with labels saying what they are.

Its whereabouts as mysterious as the egg I saw itself. And ours is not a big house.

oxford saturday, set up, dandelions

 

Worked in Oxford today but made time to walk through the Highmoor Brook water meadows, the Plantation, and the Ham Court green lane before setting off.

Set me up, I think.

Dandelion clocks thick in the meadows.

zoom, swan's nest, talking ponds, happy weekend!

 
Took this using the Samsung's x100 zoom.

It's a bit 'early CGI' but it was rock steady and gives a reasonable impression of the swan's nest on the pond in the University Parks.

Talking of ponds, ours is a lot fuller after the recent torrents - no swans, though.

Happy weekend!

lady's smock flowers, apple blossom, set?, nothing for it but to go with the year, swifts!, La ciociara

 

Came across a scattering of lady's smock flowers in a corner of Roy's meadow, just up from the Highmoor Brook. Also know as cuckooflower. The petals were pearled with dew. Lovely to see when I was out late, letting the walk settle the day's work.

A soaking yesterday, which has replenished and freshened the pond. But the downpours and high winds have scattered the apple blossom. Hoping it set. With such abundance of flowers this year, it would disappointing not to have a decent crop, but we can do nothing but go with the year!

J, out walking as I type, has phoned to say she has seen the first two swifts! Hooray! She looks forward to the swallows' arrival, I the swifts'. They are here and I hope soon we will sit at the top of the garden, as they scream round the church steeple.

Watching La ciociara (Two Women) (1960) on iTunes. It stars Sophia Loren (Oscar for Best Actress) and Jean-Paul Belmondo and one of the things I love about it is its re-creation of Italian rural life of the Second World War era. The usually quite reserved Oxford Companion to Film on the shelf above my desk (1970s edition), describes Sophia Loren's performance as 'outstanding'. And it is!