‘Wet wetter wettest’ could grammatically describe the day, with an added pinch of cold, a measure of fog and a touch of sleet. But did this downpour damp the ardour of our avian lovers? No, they reached even greater heights, notably above the 400 metre contour in the ‘lonesome pine’ tree. Neither bird has frequented the nest much, behaviour which for Mrs. No-ring is very different from last year, when as a nervous young spouse she rarely left the safety of the nest.

One bright and welcome sight for the day was the maiden flight of the Osprey Bus, already carrying satisfied customers to venues around the Lake. Staying inside it to look out at the scenery from the warm and dry must surely have been a temptation, although Dubwath Wetlands, the Lake and the sopping wet countryside would have been difficult to tell apart.