Swallows, no Amazons

Another hot, muggy day for a walk, but a great walk for wildlife.... Went round Rydal Water, which included a photo stop at a beautiful meadow full of butterflies - including pearl-bordered and dark green fritillaries, large skippers and meadow browns, along with some bright blue damselflies (not sure which type) and possibly golden-ringed dragonflies, neither of which would stop long enough for a photo. Went into the cave above the lake, I think it was man-made for slate quarrying, and there were a lot of fish in there including two goldfish of some sort!!! The cave was also populated by swallows, including this poser - the shot isn't cropped very much.... In the woods we saw a family of jays, a great-spotted woodpecker and a nuthatch, and there was a pair of great-crested grebes on the water.

Later went down to Bowness-on-Windermere, not my favourite place as it's far too busy! But was nice to sit by the lake with a drink and an icecream. Enjoyed watching three baby swallows sitting on the rails of some yachts in the marina, screaming, opening their mouths wide and flapping their wings like crazy every time an adult flew close by!

After a curry Jem and I took the kayaks out for an evening paddle on Derwentwater, as the sun went down. Very beautiful and peaceful, hardly anyone else around - last interesting bird of the day (though pretty common on Derwentwater) was at least one goosander.