Birdlife

Earlier this week, returning from the swimming pool to the car, we met a neighbour who told us that a pair of dippers were nesting in the retaining wall of the river. He also told us that he had been feeding homebakes to the pair of geese who have taken up residence. "They recognise me," he said, "and come and demand to be fed."

I'm not so sure they do recognise him. Yesterday on the way back from the pool we met the geese in the car park. They took up a position on the narrow path the leads to the bridge, stretched to their full height and raised their wings, and hissed at us. It took several minutes before they gave up hope of homebaked treats, and let us pass.