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Wendy Turner's avatar

Resting beside the river after my own dappled woodland walk, I watched a mother duck guide her little ones upstream through gently tumbling water - all patience, concern and pride. Obviously I filmed it and sent it to my own university based brood! Good luck Lia, and others, keeping home as calm as possible through exam season.

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Sue Armstrong's avatar

Beautiful word pictures and response Wendy - something I can definitely empathise with even though mine are fully fledged adults now.

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Ceri Turton's avatar

I’ve been walking along the Loire this week and heard cuckoos every day, I can’t remember the last time I heard one at home.

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

Lucky you to have a walk along the Loire and to hear the Cuckoo .

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Ean Powell's avatar

The Goat Willows are dropping their seedheads onto the towpath in a continuous blanket. In the car park they are mashed to a half inch felt mat.

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Ant Main's avatar

Yes! I cycle on the canal into Selby and at times it's looked like snow. The surface of the canal has been like that bit behind the TV where I never dust properly 🫤

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Mo's avatar

haha!

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Mo's avatar

amazing! It's all flying round here too like a snow storm

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Maria Totman's avatar

i am visiting my sister in Rome. from my window a glorious ancient umberella tree , its strong sinewy branches pushing upwards and outwards in a vast canopy of sheltering leaves .

The swallows circle and weave and the honeysuckle perfumes the air

what bliss !

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Claire Amritavani Brown's avatar

The elderflower is arriving. Half the buds open but some buds are still tightly closed.

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

An Elder bush self seeded itself into my back garden which I believe to be magical and protective. Some of mine are in flower.

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Paula P's avatar

Birds are making their great migration. In the central U.S., the number of birds in flight showed up as precipitation on weather radar! Here in North Carolina, the tiny neon yellow goldfinches have returned.

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Kat's avatar

Wow that's insane...trying to imagine how many birds in flight would cause that...incredible!

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Art Vandelay's avatar

Long soft evenings, following the moon - a momentary pang on realising we're within weeks of the summer solstice.

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Nancy Hakari's avatar

I also try not to think about how fast time is moving toward the solstice. We are quickly gaining light up here in the far north.

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Debra Wardle's avatar

My walks have been dry and dusty, leaving a grubby line when I remove my socks! The hawthorn is still looking creamy with a hint of pink. The chit chit of a stonechat and a lone lapwing swoops and dips pee-wit pee-wit.

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Nancy Hakari's avatar

I am constantly having to rinse my legs and feet when I come in from the garden and from my walks as well!

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

That all sound lovely .I did see a hawthorn at my son's house and I was delighted m

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Debra Wardle's avatar

Yes Nancy, the ground is pretty parched!😎

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Cathryn Thompson's avatar

We went for a long walk along the river, and spotted a dipper in and out of a mossy nest, not seen one for absolutely ages so that was a real treat. And it’s A Level season here, so keeping things as calm as I can for the next few weeks!

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

Lucky you to see the dipper etc.

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Sue Armstrong's avatar

Oh good luck with the A level season in your house - but of a roller coaster of emotion I remember, with all the perspiration/ inspiration mix, but it all brings you closer in the end x

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Maria Totman's avatar

Buona Fortuna Tutti!

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Rosamund Saunders's avatar

A friend and I caught the last rays of evening sun and admired the soaring trees, with a glass of wine, in the garden of Leighton House, Holland Park

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Nancy Hakari's avatar

That sounds so wonderful.

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Elaine's avatar

And I can’t just telling you the joy I’ve been getting as the swifts have been screeching overhead above my garden so wonderful to have them back.

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Elaine's avatar

Walking beneath swathes of hanging wisteria and breathing in the heady scent in my local park.

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Tracy Coward's avatar

On a late evening visit to our local nature reserve for one of their nightingale walks, we were lucky enough to hear turtle doves cooing in the woodland, such a magical experience which just filled my heart. We found ourselves saying 'oh those nightingales are so noisy' which i realise is such a privilege. To bring us back to earth it is A level season here too!

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Leti Hawthorn's avatar

The PINK🌸 hawthorn🩷☺️! And seeing hares, lambs, curlew, lapwing and oystercatcher all within a few feet of each other💚

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

Lucky You must live in a fabulous location or visited itm

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Leti Hawthorn's avatar

Yes I live on the edge of the North York Moors💚✨🌳

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ann mclucas ,'s avatar

I've never been there but have seen it on TV .Yes beautiful place but aren't we truly blessed to have such fabulous places in the British Isles.

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Leti Hawthorn's avatar

Absolutely☺️

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The Rebel Stargazer's avatar

Hearing a cuckoo in the wild for the very first time...

The hawthorn season gives way to the elderflower season

Lying outside on starry nights, watching Ursa Major circle by, Arcturus blazing nearby. The space station zips over my head and my big fuzzy cat sleeps on my lap as I look up.

Making the most of these incredible sunny days, I don't know if we'll ever get a stretch of good weather like this once it's over!

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Leah Harwood's avatar

The petals of the rowan tree fell all at once like snow

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