As I put out the bin bags at dawn this morning, the smoking fire further East down Christchurch Road revealed itself to be a blazing sun emerging to presage the splendid day we were to enjoy.
A little later, a crouching figure was seen to dart across to my desk and scamper back again. This was Flo, having risen surprisingly early to commandeer my camera for the next hour or so. 
She must have got the bug yesterday for she was to produce some even more successful pictures of our garden birds.
Here is a selection of her work:
A thrush on the rooftop projected its shadow into the ether. How this shot was achieved will be revealed tomorrow, for the benefit of those who haven’t worked it out.
She captured house sparrows, both female
and male.
The collared dove had found a new perch.
Flo interrupted a jay’s breakfast, but it carried on regardless.
A female greenfinch continued with hers
while her consort launched himself from the feeder.
A blackbird ignored the spider’s web beneath it.
Starlings are notoriously greedy beasts. Alone they must wait their turn at the trough.
An inquisitive robin removed its head from the feeder, straightened up, and engaged in a game of peep-bo.
Finally a jackdaw snaffled two peanuts
and, of course, flew off at the sight of the camera.
When the Canon SX700 HS was returned to me I took a hobble down the garden and a few yards into Downton Lane.
Our honesty is now in flower,
as is the epimedium
and the skimmia at the entrance to the back drive.
The lane itself has a profusion of
primroses,
celandines,
cowslips,
daisies,
and grape hyacinths.
This evening we dined on Jackie’s superb chicken jalfrezi (recipe), boiled egg curry, egg fried rice (recipe), and paratas. Jackie, Ian, and I drank Kingfisher; Becky drank rose; and Flo, J2O.