B.B. King. RIP.

'We all have the blues': tributes pour in after BB King dies aged 89.

BB King, who has died aged 89, was the most influential blues musician of his generation and the music’s most potent symbol. He represented the blues as Louis Armstrong once represented jazz, a single performer who could nevertheless stand, and speak, for the whole genre.

Skirr Cottage Diary.

Heard the first cuckoo of the year yesterday which is always a magic moment. There is always something very special about hearing its unmistakeable notes on the breeze drifting down from the Edge. Even as a child - when they were more common than now - we knew the bird to be mysterious and wonderful; some local woods are even named after them like Cuckoo Wood up Lightwood on the outskirts of Buxton. A walk up the Old Road didn't conjure a short-eared but I did gain site of a small fall of wheatear and meadow pipits so was well satisfied. Today whilst working at the Community Garden I was greeted by the music of skylarks in the next field. The house Martins were in good numbers too.

Skirr Cottage Diary

Plenty of insects in the garden today. Spotted my first orange tip butterfly of the year today and first ladybird. Lots of different types of bees, some I have yet to look up. Plenty of hoverflies and pond skaters. A local magpie attempted to raid a blackbird's nest in next doors hawthorn hedge but was soon surrounded by at least six angry and disturbed blackbirds who very bravely and relentlessly mobbed it until it eventually gave up and flew up into a nearby Scots pine. Three hares have also returned to the back field including one we call white ears. The jays seem to have vacated the area, I can only think they have gone off to nest in a more wooded area. The local female sparrowhawk is still about often swooping in on the bird tables. Still very few swallows or Martins to be seen. A pair of buzzards are still a regular sight over the local fields.