Thursday 3rd July

 Nothing but blue skies 🎜this morning.  When I arrived, the ponies were nowhere to be seen, not by the corral or down the hill, not along the top path or near the road, not by the far gate, not along the lower path, but - predictably - when I got back to the corral, there they were, having a drink at the trough.  They all said a brief hello, and then retreated to the shade by the corral.. Hoopy's eyes looked a lot better - a few troublesome flies but nothing worse so far as I could see.  They were doing a bit of mutual grooming as I left.

Lots of butterflies out in the sunshine - and yes, a couple of yellowhammers! A pair of buzzards were trying some synchronised soaring and a red kite put in a brief appearance.