Very late House Martins nesting.

 Most of the village House Martins and Swallows are now on their way to somewhere in Africa, but one or two are still flying around stoking up their fat reserves for the long journey ahead. Somewhat surprisingly one pair of House Martins are still feeding two young ones in a nest that has not been peviously used for breeding this year. Whether the adults or the young ones will now be able to build up enough energy reserves to get across the Sahara must be doubtful.

House Martins.  Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge

They don't seem to mind visitors.  They are up the path to Steven's Farm, just past the Air Ambulance box for milk bottle tops.

 Autumn Fruits

September is Blackberry time but this year it is proving disappointing. A few weeks ago it looked as though we were in for a bumper harvest but late ripening has resulted in berries that are dry and not very sweet. So goodby to my ideas of making blackberry jelly.

                                              Blackberries on the way to Ewelease Dairy. Photo. John Elliott

 

The Bullaces, wild plums, have however had a good year and I now have, thanks to a kind neighbour whose garden has several trees, four pounds of  'damson' jam. The trees by the Reading Room, much appreciated by villagers in former years, have had a bumper crop this year but this is now rotting on the ground as the trees have been trimmed and the fruit can't be reached. 

 

                                             Reading Room Bullaces.   Photo. John Elliott