Blue sky thinking

Sky-blue sky over the Common today as I stood dazzled by the sun reflecting off the Great Pond. A heron stood statue-like on the shore, then flew over the water like some prehistoric beast. Further on I spotted an unlikely buttefly fluttering through the bare twigs of a tree. I may be going mad but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a leaf - probably a red admiral woken briefly from hibernation. Overhead a flock of long-tailed tits called my attention with their metallic tweets.

Wildlife on Thames

Just to prove that you don't have to go to the middle of nowhere to see wildlife, this heron posed for the camera by the Thames on a busy riverside in south west London.

We also spotted a crested grebe bobbing along midstream, framed by walls of purple loosestrife lining the banks.

Taking tea on the hill later, we watched a plump, bold grey squirrel lapping water from a dog bowl beside one of the tables. And you can enjoy all this in the heart of civilisation and sophistication while munching chocolate tiffin...