Bluebells, and a tail-less visitor

The sun shone yesterday (at least until late afternoon, when it rained again) but we took full advantage of a break in the weather and went for a walk.

The bluebells are just beginning to fade a little but a woodland carpeted with blue is still a lovely Spring sight.  

 Our walk took us to the top of a steep hill and to this memorial, built by a local land-owning family to commemorate the death in WW1 of one of their sons.  I've driven past it so many times but this was the first time I've climbed the hill to see it.  The views across the Island from the top are pretty far-reaching, but my camera sadly doesn't do justice to big landscapes.  I could see for a very long way, though.

Today has been so windy, all day.  It was also rubbish collection day, so we've had wheelie-bins and assorted rubbish flying around.  The guttering came adrift from the shed roof, necessitating an emergency repair, and at one point I had concerns for the conservatory roof - some very ominous whistling noises could be heard.  There were 'white horses' on the Solent and I'm rather glad I wasn't on the ferry.  More of the same tomorrow, apparently.

We've had a little visitor in the garden for the past week or so, this baby blackbird seems to have taken up residence with us.  He's very recognisable as he has no tail feathers at all, and consequently looks a bit stumpy.  He hides under the water butts and once somehow managed to get himself trapped inside the small meshed raised bed - N had to come to his rescue and show him the way out.  Hopefully those feathers will grow soon; he looks a little forlorn without them.