Drought

Despite promises of rain, we've not had any for well over a month now and the countryside around here is beginning to show signs of drought. The exceptionally dry weather has however, seems to have been a boon for hay-making farmers. Almost every field is currently littered with great round bales of the stuff.

Malcolm and I stood and watched as rolls were being spat out of the back of a machine, being towed by a tractor. All a far cry from the days of the pitchfork-wielding labourers of yesteryear.

No doubt all that hay will be appreciated by the cattle during the leaner months of winter. These characters for example...

Down at Straws Bridge, the water levels in Swan Lake are dropping by the day as ducks, coots, geese, swans and gulls all seem to be getting a bit tetchy in the heat. As usual, the Black-headed Gulls are the most vocal about it, but the appearance of a couple of their larger, Lesser Black Backed cousins seems to act as a steadying influence - for a while anyway.

The rest of Shipley Park is looking brown and parched, even in those places where it's usually quite damp.

With all this fine, dry weather, it's been a good year for the invertebrates. Ringlet Butterflies are everywhere...

... and this pair of Soldier Beetles were getting to know each other better on a thistle this morning.

In fact, they all seemed to be at it.

Having sex on a thistle might be considered something of a risky business...!