Beautiful Scilly Isles

Just back from a week in the Isles of Scilly, the idyllic unspoiled annexe of Cornwall. It was fabulous as usual - the sea was aquamarine, the deserted beaches sparkling white, and the wild agapanthus in the dunes on Tresco are in full flower now. Do go if you ever have the chance.

Baby owls!

Our lucky neighbours have spotted two baby barn owls hopping up and down on a branch outside the nest! I'm so pleased that the owlets have made it to fledging, and hope the weather lets up so that they're not permanently wet as they learn to fly. On the other hand, one small advantage of all the rain is that no-one has been able to cut their hay yet and there's plenty of owl-friendly long grass in the fields nearby.

Bird trouble

We've seen a lot of the Barn Owls this week. I think the wet weather must be making hunting difficult, as we've spotted them out and about as early as 5pm. They're nesting in an oak tree about 300yds from the house, and even when you see them every day, it still gives a thrill to spot them gliding silently over the (uncut) hay.

Late June and early July is always a difficult time with the hens - it gets dark so late that sometimes it's past my bed time when the chickens go up to roost. Consequently it's difficult to lock them up at night and we have lost three to a fox within a week - may be the same vixen, providing for cubs.