Tuesday 10th March

As Wednesday's bike ride looks like a rain off, took advantage of bright weather to head east, biking to Annan via Ruthwell Station, Dalton, Hoddam and back along cycle route 7.  Partly my own fault I didn't see that much as I ended up looking straight into the sun for much of the run with no sunglasses on.

Nice however to see a male yellowhammer fly across my path just before Carrutherstown, the first for a good while. On the way back a relaxed female kestrel and siskin showed in the area of

Unusual cows at Dalton Pottery

Priestside and a first bumble bee of the season at Ruthwell Village.

There were also a couple of gaggles of swans and geese in farmers' fields at Brow Well and near Bankend.  However the most memorable nature sightings were the two strange cows seen in the grounds at Dalton Pottery, seemingly undisturbed by the badly parked beetle nearby.

Also heard but did not see curlew, oystercatcher and skylark but no lapwing.  There must be some reason why skylarks are hard to see at this time of year.  Maybe they are on the ground?