The season hasn't come to a full stop....

I've just returned from a bracing walk along the river and am sitting here in a quiet room with the sun streaming through the window. Daisy the cat is sitting next to the lap-top,purring, and Gemma is lying on a quilt gently snoring in her deep sleep. All is peaceful...

The sun has shone almost constantly today, although the wind is still keen. Monday's rain has filled the river, and there was obviously some slight flooding in the night, probably coinciding with tide-locking at the Dog-in-a-Doublet sluice downstream. As I walked through an area of willow carr a woodcock flew up almost in front of me. These are amazing birds with a long pointed beak and broad, rounded wings, amazingly camouflaged in soft shades of brown. Needless to say I didn't get a photograph.

Once again the ivy blossom was full of wasps and flies. Pete was with me and pointed out a queen and workers of the early bumble-bee Bombus pratorum.This is usually a spring and early summer species, although it is reported that they can have up to three colonies a year. It's very unusual to see them in November. We were also lucky enough to see this beautiful comma butterfly, warming itself in the sun. As Pete pointed out, at least it shows that the season hasn't come to a full stop....groan!