Is It A Plane? Is It A Mosquito?

Well, I could have published a picture of the beautiful sunset we saw as we went for a short walk this evening, but since I post quite a few sunsets I decided to include something a little different.

These helicopters have been going over our village every day for the past few days, causing lots of discussion and speculation on local social media. I finally got a glimpse of them as I was in my garden this afternoon when they flew overhead.

Then this evening I read the story behind these helicopters. They are part of a squadron of 78 Merlin HC Mk3 and Mk3A helicopters which are being handed over from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy. There was a big ceremony at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire today, with a full ceremonial parade, attended by Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, and Prince Michael of Kent. The flights we've seen over our village in the last few days have been practice missions ahead of today's ceremony. The helicopters made a final flypast this afternoon, which I caught in this, the only picture I had time to take!