Garden Wildlife UK

Two Swallows at the beach on Tuesday they are maybe lost in the fog,we seem to have resident Bearded Tits at the reserve ,and the crows are back to have a look at their old nest at my back door ,lots of Sparrows at my feeders and thats about it I do think I have a mouse in my shed.

I agree with your assessment of the Swallows. They're very late leaving, just as well it is still mild.

"That's about it" !!!!!! . Greenfinch, I think most of us would give a lot to have what you've described.
I'd settle for just the mouse in the shed .......

There's a cricket match today - in New York !!! !!! This is such an event that even the BBC was exercised by it this morning even though it will be shown on Sky !!! and they broadcast an anecdote by Michael Parkinson, the chatshow host and avid cricket fan.

It seems that he was on a 'plane flight sitting next to an American lady and somehow he was explaining the rules, laws and mechanics of the game of cricket to her. She listened attentively and politely until he had finished and then turned and stared at him incredulously and said, "And they do all that on horseback ?!?!?!?"

and they go in for tea

......and if a ball is slowed enough by the horse droppings on the pitch that it prevents a boundary how is that scored?

greg will know

I cannot think of anything worse than sitting next to MP on a flight to America getting Cricket explained to me .

There is a programme starting tonight Channel 5 ,8 Oclock wildlife round Loch Lomond will give it a bash the scenery should be good .

By some quirk of the Interweb I have this day received an email for Placido from the head of BBC Weather Watch. He thanks her for her regular reports but is a little concerned that the reports are all referenced to Cricket. Apparently "Has rained overnight will need the heavy roller", "Foggy, can barely see the stumps" and "Dark clouds overhead time to take early tea" although entertaining is not quite what they had in mind when the group was set up.
Personally I looking forward to "Warmer weather give long sleeved sweater to umpire" and " Hot today 12th man bring on the drinks"