Emergency blip

No sunshine today.  Had a long morning walk with the hound.  It was cloudy, chilly but dry.  On our return home saw a large bird floating overhead beautifully on thermals.

Back home I looked it up on my Field Studies Council (FSC) Guide to British birds of prey, a really handy fold up laminated guide.  The bird's forked tail identified it as a red kite.  The guide describes it as 'Leisurely drifting flight pattern without flapping.' was spot on.

I possess a range of the FSC guides on water birds, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, wetland birds, British mammals to name a few.  

Rain drifted in during the afternoon.  I spent it indoors reading.

My African violet is rewarding me with one bloom so far.  In the past I've killed of these delicate plants so I'm glad this one is thriving so far.

A few days ago my John Lewis clothes airer purchased several years ago collapsed completely.  One of the plastic clips which held it upright had already broken but the other was still functioning despite a precarious list.  It still stayed upright with lightweight clothes on it.  The metal has absolutely no fault yet I'll have to discard it annoyingly because two small plastic poorly designed pieces have broken.  

A new airer arrived today with a two year guarantee.  Hopefully it will last at least double that time.

I participated in the RSPB bird count today.  It seems that this last weekend in January sees the birds hiding away.  Usually several long-tailed tits grace the bird feeder but not today. 

Pleasant evening everyone.