Summer morning

It’s so good to hear from people in the area who watch and appreciate nature. One correspondent was recently enjoying a beautiful sunny June morning, two days after the summer solstice, sitting by the open front door and enjoying the heat over a leisurely breakfast – the perfect start to a summer’s day! Nearby the swallows were working at a hectic rate to rear their young. Their chatter at all hour has a distinctive air of high summer about it. A tiny wren was busily encouraging her young to leave the nest. Hatched into thick ivy by the wall, the five chicks now had the task of leaving the relative safety of their nest and emerging into this brave new world. Courageously each in turn launched itself out and took its first fluttering voyage. There youngsters were faced with journeys that created many new perils for them. They looked so vulnerable as they took that first leap of faith, trusting their mother who was clearly torn between excitement and frantic worry. She disappeared for a few minutes, before returning with some food for the brave youngsters, all calling out for attention. From the security of the nest to the turbulence, chaos and danger of the wider world – and yet the urge is there and cannot be ignored …..move out and move on. It is a dangerous world for the young ones, even at 8am on a lovely sunny day. They have so much to learn if they are to survive, and they need to learn fast. For certain some of the five will not survive, but some surely will. It was not long before a few magpies appeared, with their distinctive menacing shrieks. Those little wrens just have to work it out for themselves. Good luck to them. Life goes on. The web that links all living creatures and plants, and the endlessly turning cycle of life, are truly remarkable. We are very privileged to be part of such a fortunate planet and to have been invited to join the dance of life.