Today’s guest picture shows a view of Buckingham Palace from St James’ Park. I am going to have a view from my sitting room window like this when I grow up. My sister Mary took the picture.
Although it was a rather cloudy day, the temperature wasn’t too bad and the wind was light so I leapt out of bed determined to go for a morning ride. I just made it, finally setting off a few minutes before midday. It wasn’t as though I had done anything more interesting than the crossword in the interim. I had spent a little time wondering how this goldfinch had contrived to get a seed to fly over its shoulder….
…and communing with a jackdaw.
I had also been amused by a goldfinch shouting so loudly that a siskin had nearly jumped right out of its feathers.
But I couldn’t find any other reasons for delay and in the end I got going on the 22 mile trip to Gair and back.
I am beginning to feel that I have got a little strength back in my legs but I am far from fit yet. I did try to press on from time to time but my efforts soon fizzled out and I was back to plodding. I am going to try to get my average speed for this trip up to 14 mph by the end of the month which will be a start on the road back to full fitness.
The cloud was sitting down so firmly on the top of Callister that I had to stop when I got down the other side and wipe the moisture off my glasses.
When I got home, the cloud was still down on Whita and it looked as though it might be a day for going up to the monument and getting above the cloud. I was quite excited by this as it offers good photo opportunities so after a quick lunch, Mrs Tootlepedal and I jumped into the car and drove up to the Whte Yett.
Mrs Tootlepedal stayed at the car and scanned the skies for interesting birds, while I plodded up the track to the monument.
The venture was not very successful for me to say the least.
Instead of burning off the top of the hill, the cloud stuck around stubbornly.
As there was a hint of sunshine, I hung around in hope for a while…
but instead of disappearing, the cloud thickened, blowing up the valley from the south. This was the total view.
Conscious of Mrs Tootlepedal waiting for me at the bottom of the track, I walked back down. It was a curious day. To one side of the track, blue sky…
…and to the other, mist covered hills. When I got to the bottom, I looked back at the monument.
A few minutes later, the summit was clear of clouds.
As a consolation I did manage to spot one of the many larks that were singing their heads off in the sky above me as i walked.
Mrs Tootlepedal had not been bored at all as she had seen a hen harrier, two buzzards and a (possible) kestrel or merlin while I had been away.
We decided to go on over the hill to see if we could see more harriers and owls.
The Tarras valley was a mixture of cloud and sunshine.
It was fate, that as soon as we got parked, the cloud swept up the valley and covered the car and the surrounding moor. We didn’t linger long.
To rub salt in the wound, the rest of the day in the town was absolutely beautiful but I didn’t have the energy left to do more than wander round the garden from time to time…
…and stare out of the kitchen window when I got in.
This time it was a chaffinch with a loud voice.
The chaffinches were in lively mood.
A passing collared dove looked as though it had been in a fight.
After tea, it was time for me to go to our local camera club meeting. We had a very reasonable turnout in spite of it being a holiday weekend and although we didn’t have as many photographs to show as we hoped, the meeting was still most enjoyable. It was helped by the fact that I had remembered biscuits, tea, coffee, milk, a kettle and even some teaspoons so that after we had viewed the images, we had a general discussion and tea break.
This has been an experimental first year but the unanimous feeling was to do it all again next year.
A traditional chaffinch is flying bird of the day.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
I especially like your “flying seed of the day” photo. Yes, one of life’s mysteries! Thanks for the update on the tadpoles. Coming along nicely!
Do you see many turtles on your outings?
Not a turtle to be seen anywhere in this part of the country.
Too bad you couldn’t get above the mist. Those times that you have made for some fine photos but the hills themselves in this batch make up for the missing mist.
It’s nice to see even a dandelion!
I agree about the dandelion. We will have to wait another week or two for the flowers to get going more generally. The daffodils are coming on well though.
Still a lovely walk to be had with each other. Have your fruit trees started to bud yet?
The plum tree is showing signs.
Sometimes the good stuff is right under your nose…that dandelion photo is gorgeous!
It came out surprising well. Yellow is not always the easiest colour for my camera to capture.
Loved your bird pictures today with all the comments on their supposed behaviour. Sorry about the mist spoiling your views though.
What is Mrs T’s attitude to dandelions on the drive?
Varied, according to mood and the garden state of the moment.
Everyday is a treat now that spring has returned to your area! Beautiful flowers, landscapes, and birds every day lately.
April 20th should be the start of spring at its springiest according to Mrs T.
Sorry the clouds put a damper on your time up on the hill, but your photos of them are fabulous and really convey the mood of the moment. What is that piece of artwork on the monument hill?
It is a memorial to Hugh McDiarmid, a well known poet who was born and brought up in Langholm.
It’s very striking.
Lovely pictures as always in spite of elusive sunshine.
Very impressed by your photo of a singing skylark. Often heard but seldom seen.
It seemed as if there was one every hundred yards. I haven’t heard such a good chorus of larks for a good few years.
The chaffinch photos are amazing – such aggressive little birds. Mr Tootlepedal, I am taking a bit of an Autumn-induced blog sabbatical, but will still keep up with your blog (I hope!)
A well earned rest I call it. Drop in by all means if you have time.
Badly behaved cloud and mist! The lark photo is very good.
Unique as far as I am concerned.
What a shame about the mist. I like your dandelion, even if Mrs T will probably have removed it by now. Funnily enough I was struck by the beauty of some dandelions along the river yesterday. I suppose if we considered them worthy of the garden they’d be harder to grow.
At this time of year the dandelion will stay.