I have been busy this last week in both the bird and the flower areas despite the general "quiet" so often experienced at this time of year.

Take the case of the old brick-clay pool, for example.

Once again this dim, dark and very dangerous pool is smothered by stalk, leaf and bright yellow flowers.

Fortunately - for adventurous adults as well as children, this deep clay-pit is bounded by tall, stoutly-built fencing.

In addition to the yellow blooms, there are two very lovely groups of huge white water lilies (Nymphea alba).

One wonders where they originated? And their yellow companions? For each species is rather localised, (the yellow Nymphoides even more so).

This saffron-tinted flower is decidedly uncommon in the North.

Meanwhile we have been busy clearing huge and unwieldy spreads of Vinca major (the lovely purple/blue Large Periwinkle) from one stretch of garden.

So it came as rather a shock to read that it is now classified being highly poisonous! Further investigation and research reveals that this lovely bloom is related to the African Strophanthus kombe which contains a swift-acting and even more deadly agent.

Not very long ago it was still being used as a fierce and fatal arrow-poison by certain East African tribes!

Of the birds, there is also some interesting report.

A phone call from Hawkshead, was very intriguing.

This described a pure white goose among about 40 or so graylags - but apparently accepted by them.

My record states that all-white specimens are not unknown among the graylags - though whether such true albinos, are birds of aberrant plumage lacking grey pigment is difficult to establish.

Whether the bird seen on Esthwaite Water was a true albino (with pink eyes) remains a puzzle.

Generally, such albinos rarely thrive.

Finally, on the day this was written, I saw Satyr in the garden! This was a Wall Brown butterfly - known to the more imaginative French as "Le Satyre".

With dancing flight, brief pause on warm timber, patterned wings widespread, it made a welcome addition to the Cabbage White, Tortoiseshell, Peacocks and Red Admiral, the few species recorded so far.