Sunday Mini Safari.

We gladly accepted an invitation to visit our friends Tony and Jean on Sunday for mid morning coffee and a walk expecting just to stroll around the fields behind their house  but they decided we should head somewhere else for a change.  

Tony drove us over to Papercourt and we commenced our mini safari which led us down to the River Wey Navigation where many weekenders where walking, cycling or just pottering about on their barges. We headed upstream with views of the waterway often obliterated by the high waterside growth. In one garden we spotted that the remains of a tree trunk had been converted into a carving of a Owl...very appropriate as this is apparently a good location to see Barn Owls quartering the meadows but not at midday!   

Mallards were the main occupants on the water.

The pathside vegetation held lots of butterflies including Comma, Gatekeepers and Speckled Wood.

A very tatty Red Admiral soaking up the sun.

Bird sightings included Linnets, Common Whitethroat, Reed Warbler (heard only), Chaffinch, Woodpigeons, Swallows, House Martins plus Blue and Great Tits.

We saw quite a few Brown Hawkers and Common Blue Damsels and eventually caught this male Beautiful Damselfy taking a rest on a nettle. Returning via Papercourt Sailing Pit we added Mute Swans, Coots, Egyptian Geese, Robin, Green Woodpecker and a pair of Bullfinches to our sighting list.

The rest of the day was spent in our friends garden still showing lots of colour (above is a pot of Coleus) despite the lack of much needed rain enjoying their company and a very tasty B-b-Q...............FAB.