Wednesday 21st September

A first tentative bike ride to Beeswing, but cutting the normal route by takeing the road to the east of Lochrutton Loch. On top of the hill saw half a dozen linnets playing in the hedgerows, but they wouldn't let me get very close.

On the way back to wards New Abbey, looked for the "red tree" I have noticed before more or less adjacent to the Waterloo Monument. It looks to be some sort of maple.  Eventually all the leaves will go red. Today it looked at first as if it was in blossom, but it's definitely the leaves turning.

The red tree

Friday 16th September

House Spider

Summer is hanging on quite well this year.

There is still a minute bit of buddleia flowering and individual butterflies are still visiting.

There was a red admiral two days ago, a peacock yesterday and a small tortoiseshell today, which I suspect is the latest the buddleia has still been doing the trick.

One sign of worsening weather has been the number of spiders appearing in the house. Now I have very large hands, so this one that I found camping on the dining room carpet is a pretty big spider in my view.

I wonder what it's been eating since it got in.