Just call me sister

Best viewed *larger*

First of all apologies to all who are afraid of spiders - but you must admit this is a particularly beautiful looking spider. It's a nursery web spider, the first sighting of the year & a favourite of mine. They spend the early part of the year hiding amongst leaves & nettles, sunning themselves, totally motionless, waiting for an unsuspecting fly or other small insect to cross their path & then they'll pounce with lightening speed. When it's ready to make a nest, the female makes a cocoon like web in tall grass where she stays & hatches her eggs, eventually the spiderlings then disperse when they're ready to go. Spiders are superb caring mums, rather like nurse maids, so this one is named correctly! :)

And…

Round the curtain

A disappointment in weather today, promise of a cloudless day with full sunshine, instead we got thick cloud & chilly wind, I feel rather cheated really! We did manage to go out, but it was uncomfortable in the breeze. I heard my first willow warbler of the year, plus saw my first cuckoo flower. The beech trees are leafing & the oak is out before the ash, so we're in for a splash! (I shall jolly well hope so too after the devastating rain we had a few months back!) :) xxx