THIS LOVELY CAR WAS PARKED IN A LAY-BY IN OXFORDSHIRE. Its owner was rightly proud of it, and its condition 
DOLLOND SUNDIAL AT ROUSHAM HOUSE, OXFORDSHIRE
DOLLOND SUNDIAL AT ROUSHAM HOUSE, OXFORDSHIRE
A BRACE OF PARTRIDGE IN DORSET
TWO PARTRIDGES have taken to regular visiting quite close to the house – especially when the feeders have been filled. They come for a peck around every morning and evening, and burble quietly to each other as they feed. Yet again I missed them when the window was open, and have had to take photographs through glass, so their wonderful markings are not pin-sharp. The female is slightly paler than the male. I tried sneaking up on them, but they are very wary of being papped… 
GOLDFINCH IN A WEEPING ASH – DORSET
GOLDFINCH IN A WEEPING ASH – DORSET
COMPTON: THE WATTS GALLERY, WATTS CHAPEL – THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT
The newly restored Watts Gallery showcases the work of artist G. F. WATTS. There is also work by his wife MARY WATTS, though that is best seen at the Watts Chapel a short walk from the Gallery. I found material for 3 of my Themes – sundials, mazes** and (stretching the definition somewhat) ‘stone’ marks. Here are examples in the first two categories; I’ll leave the remarkable terracotta gravestones (and their lettering) for another time.
SUNDIALS AT COMPTON
The Garden Sundial
An ususual sundial, now kept inside the Gallery
‘MAZES’ [**in fact LABYRINTHS] AT COMPTON
These apparent mazes are, as Ellen has rightly pointed out in her comment, strictly-speaking labyrinths. The distinction is this:
MAZES provide multiple paths with only one “correct” one
LABYRINTHS which provide a single path to the centre. Here, you should follow the raised rather than the recessed paths to understand how the labyrinth works
A maze labyrinth on the altar front in the Watts Chapel
Terracotta Angel holding a maze labyrinth outside the Chapel, among other elaborate ornamentation
This similar Angel and maze labyrinth was on the other side of the Chapel
PROVENCE: SIX VILLAGE CHURCH CLOCKS AND BELL TOWERS
PROVENCE: SIX VILLAGE CHURCH CLOCKS AND BELL TOWERS
LEVENS
TOURETTE LEVENS A CLOCK NAMED BRIAN
CHATEAUNEUF VILLEVIELLE
COARAZE
EZE SUR MER
PEILLON
A PIED WAGTAIL’S EVENING PREENING ROUTINE
PIED WAGTAIL PREENING IN EVENING SUNSHINE
This is a complicated routine involving a great deal of busy activity, from 180° head rotation to elaborate fluffing up to pauses for admiration. I watched this bird, one of a pair, for several minutes. The photos have been cropped but not in any way photoshopped… I’m pleased at how well they turned out, considering that I was filming from the ground 20 feet below, and the bird was moving most of the time. I’ve put some individual pictures up first, then a slideshow of the whole performance…
THE FIRST SWALLOW OF SUMMER & OTHER SPRING BIRDS
THE FIRST SWALLOW OF SUMMER
THE FIRST SWALLOW TO ARRIVE AT OUR HOUSE IN DORSET, APRIL 27 A handful of swallows arrived from Africa on the first day of sunshine for weeks, preened for a while on the wires, then flew round the garden after insects. The next two days have been heavy rain, and they haven’t shown again… We saw the last ones leave last Autumn, so it’s good to have seen them come back. 
PIED WAGTAIL PICKING ITS WAY DELICATELY ALONG THE ROOF RIDGE
GOLDFINCH IN A WEEPING ASH
BLACKBIRD’S NEST
The chicks fledged and flew during the past week, and we missed it… suddenly the nest was empty
BEES BUZZING BUSILY IN THE BIG CITY
BEES INVESTIGATING FLOWERS AND BLOSSOM IN A LONDON GARDEN
SPRING HONEY BEES IN SUSSEX & EARLY HONEY…
HONEY BEES, EAST SUSSEX ON 1st APRIL These bees are from four hives, and were thirsty. During the day there were always several drinking in the birdbath. Although the water level was quite low, sadly there had been a couple of casualties early in the day. Adding bits of plant solved the problem. Also shown below is the first honey of the year. 
ROLLING HARBOUR GALLERY 