Danger - keep out!

Southern Lapwings aren't too bright when it comes to nest building. I've seen one poor nesting female killed outright by a drive that hit her full on. However, they mostly seem to survive, and the colony on the golf course is up to at least 80.

This dame has obviously been around for a while, and allowed HH to play a shot from just over two metres away this morning, although she and her mate became very agitated. This afternoon I thought I might get close enough for some decent shots, only to find her surrounded by more mis-hit balls aimed at the practice green. The two birds went into decoy mode and it wasn't clear if they were directing their protests at me or at the two men on the other side of the practice ground. Anyway, I took advantage of her absence to provide some feeble protection. Between sorties with the two birds swooping close by, I managed to set a ring of cones round the nest, and then left her in peace (luckily she settled down immediately).

Everything is still crackling dry and the fires in the national reserve and elsewhere have been raging for 12 days now. A pesky wind isn't helping anything and no rain is forecast until Monday night. Very depressing.

Back down to Rio to welcome some friends who are returning for a visit after 30 years - a good year for this!