My Wild Life - Days 17-18

Day 17

Day 17 was a scorcher!
So why I was outside, in the midday sun, planting, I have no idea!
But here is what I got done:

I noticed the edible clover had flowered...

Here is the nettle mound before:

And after:

What a difference!

After cutting the hedge right back on Day 14, I was able to retrieve last years Blackbird nest.
It was quite a neat little nest and amazing to think they made it with the use of their beak.

It's sad to say I found scraps of plastic bag woven into this sturdy nest. Whether from our garden or a neighbours, it's a shame to think these birds are now relying on man made material to create the perfect home for their chicks.

As I remember, all the chicks fledged with no problems.

Back on the lawn, I planted up 3 tomato plants. I plan to prune these into a tomato bush!

I also planted up a pansy ring at the base of the washing line.

Might as well, brightens it up!

Lastly, after the heat of the day, my mad eccentric boyfriend and I, carried out a mini moth night.

We attracted alot of midges and mosquitoes, all male, and 5 moths.
Doesn't sound like much but one of them was the Swallowtail moth.

Day 18

Day 18, what a day to go to the coast! The traffic was light and the sea incredibly blue!
But it wasn't the beach we were after; Bempton Cliffs lay in waiting with its majestic Gannets and chatty Kittiwake's for an afternoon of blistering sun and rediscovery!

It is definatly one of those reserves best visited than read about but here it goes!

Each view point reveals the secret life of each seabird.

The Gannet Peninsular, as I like to call it, had every nook and cranny filled. There was honestly no room for any other bird!

Besides the amazing views and wall to wall blue skies, onlookers peered over the edge to catch a glimpse of the elusive puffin. This iconic bird adds a splash of colour to the cliff face and is a dumpling in flight.

Up and down this stretch of coast, like minded naturalists brace their binoculars as each parent bird carries on with their life on edge, literally! How these birds nest, sleep and raise a chick on these perches is beyond me! How do the chicks stay on, is a question I need to know!

Oblivious to the human's obsession, these birds power on through life as nature intended.

Leaving the reserve at 5, we headed north towards Filey. Filey is my childhood beach. Whenever the sun shines and the shorts are dusted down from the winter, I beg to myself I will make it to Filey beach.

Eating a battered sausage with chips and a lemon top ice cream, a leisurely stroll along the shore line made a blissful end to a perfect day.

Rock pooling unearthed childhood memories and I was transported back to family holidays spent scrambling across boulders and tiptoeing between colonies of limpets.

The sunset formed a picturesque snap to the back of the Brigg and the view from the cliff top proved to be better!