“In the shallow water at the edge of the lake, a coot sits on her nest, which she and her mate have made with pieces of reed stems” Artist: CF Tunnicliffe. Writer: EL Grant Watson

I really enjoyed reading this …

Wonderful!👇 (Hope there was no sign of Mr Jemmerling … 👀)

Get ready to become obsessed. As of today, you can watch our two new nest box cams: we’ve got a pair of blue tits and pied flycatchers, both starting families in their new nests. Follow along as we watch these birds raise their broods: bit.ly/4t5cLK4

The bluebells are fabulous on The Coppermines Conservation Area At the moment. Always a little later than the ones in the valley as these are growing up to an altitude of 800 feet above sea level.

Three thousand cheers for this excellent Ransome-ish trip (and three thousand cheers for the most enjoyable photo alt-text)

📣📣ANNOUNCEMENT!📣📣 Our next read is going to be Swallowdale! So dry out your cake and watch out for the pike rock, as we dive in to read over the next few weeks. We’ll gather around the campfire (aka Zoom call) to talk about our thoughts/reflections end of June (date TBC). #SwallowsAndAmazons

What a beautiful thread…

Lake District, mid-20th century, by Joseph Hardman, 1893-1972 (Lakeland Arts). Photographer born in Radcliffe, Bury, but moved to Kendal in 1911.

Tomorrow is International Dawn Chorus Day! Whether you crack the window open, or step out under the trees, take a moment to pause & listen. We’d love you to share your recordings, photos or dawn chorus moments with us. #DawnChorusClub: It's time. Set your alarms... Who'll be up with the birds? 💚

A sublime early morning, drifting quietly around Esthwaite Lake.

Theme for the NYT Strands game today is ‘hullabaloo’ … no sign of ‘Margoletta’ though … www.nytimes.com/games/strands

Arthur and Evegenia Ransome’s grave at Rusland. @tarsociety.bsky.social @aransome.bsky.social

If you’re in the UK, this is a lovely programme - Sam West and Ade Edmondson birding in Norfolk. I think the Coot Club would approve! www.channel5.com/show/sam-ade...

📣📣Coot Club zoom chat - Sun 18th, 7.30pm UK time!📣📣 All are warmly invited to a relaxed chat about Coot Club. Doesn’t matter whether you read it 5 mins or 50 years ago! Email [email protected] for the link if you’d like to come (my DMs aren’t working)

Brain teaser for a Saturday morning…

Three million cheers for @farmerruth.bsky.social for this Coot Club poem!! Thank you so much Ruth 👏👏👏 The Hullabaloos on their cruiser Think Tom will be the loser Get under your sail And you cannot fail To escape from thr figure-head bruiser #SwallowsAndAmazons

How would Sun 19th 7.30pm or 8.00pm UK time work for our Coot Club zoom chat? Let me know below or via email to [email protected]

So … rearranging Coot Club Zoom chat! I could do Saturday 18th or Sunday 19th April any time after 5pm UK time. If you’re interested in joining, either drop me an email ([email protected]) or comment below with your preference. DMs not working!

📣📣Announcement!📣📣 Many of our number aren’t able to make our 7pm Zoom chat, so instead I suggest we share our thoughts about Coot Club below, at our leisure👇 This means everyone can participate. We can have a think about another read and potentially another zoom later in the year 😊

How wonderful… if you post a picture below from Coot Club (any illustration you choose) then our resident poet Ruth may turn one of them into a poem! 📖📸✍️👇 #SwallowsAndAmazons

📣📣 Ahoy there shipmates! 📣📣 Ahead of our Coot Club chat on Sunday 12th April, 7pm UK time on Zoom, here are some questions to get us thinking… If you’d like to join us then email [email protected] - I will send the zoom link on Saturday #SwallowsAndAmazons

A magnificent walk up through the woods to Tarn Hows this morning. Only birdsong and the gentle music of a stream as accompanyment.

I’ll be sharing some prompt questions soon, ahead of our Coot Club chat (Sun 12th April, 7pm UK time). If you have a question or two you’d like to add into the mix, do drop me a DM with it, or email me at [email protected] by the end of today (Wed 8th April)!

And the answers were… 1. Flint; bad; eggs 2. Great Northern? 3. Mr Jemmerling, the egg collector (*shudders*) Bonus: pink Take 1000 cheers for each correct answer!

The Mug family.

QUIZ! ‘I was wrong,' said Captain _____. 'He's not mad but ___. It isn't only ____ he wants. He wants to take the credit for it.’ 1. Fill in the blanks 2. Which book? 3. Who is ‘he’? Bonus: what colour pyjamas does ‘he’ favour? Reply below, answers tomorrow! #SwallowsAndAmazons

Pace Eggs are an Easter tradition in northern England. Hard-boiled eggs often boiled onion skins; but also beetroot, coffee grains and spinach. Pace Eggs are displayed in windows until Easter Sunday, then rolled down a nearby hill. #FolkloreSunday #EasterSunday

Usually gracing Coniston Water by now, but unfortunately missing this Easter due to mechanical issues. Back soon I hope SY Gondola.

As Easter weekend begins, just a reminder that our Zoom chat about Coot Club is coming up soon (Sun 12th April, 7pm UK time), and you are warmly invited! There’s still plenty time to (re)read/listen to the story. We’ll be having a relaxed chat, sharing thoughts/reflections ⛵️📚 1/2 🧵

Hot cross buns, anyone? Artist: Harry Wingfield (1971)

Layers: Rannerdale Knotts, Haystacks, Gables

Watching a cormorants At RSPB Leighton Moss this morning.

R4 March 27, 11am Food Programme.🐍

Ransome readers love a map! I heard a radio programme about eels last Friday. It was a bit sad really but I suppose people have always used what's around them, just like Harry!

📣⛵️ A reminder … in four weeks we will be convening via Zoom for our Coot Club book chat, and you are warmly invited!⛵️📣 So … settle down with your favourite rations and (re)read the book over the coming weeks. When? Sun 12th Apr, 7pm UK time Where? Zoom (info/link to follow) #SwallowsAndAmazons

I wonder what Harry Bangate from The Big Six would have to say about this… I imagine Daisy from Secret Water would approve though!

Lovely thread here! 🧵⛵️

Brantwood has a magnificent Display of daffodils this year 😊 @ruskinsociety.bsky.social

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens

📣⛵️ A reminder … in four weeks we will be convening via Zoom for our Coot Club book chat, and you are warmly invited!⛵️📣 So … settle down with your favourite rations and (re)read the book over the coming weeks. When? Sun 12th Apr, 7pm UK time Where? Zoom (info/link to follow) #SwallowsAndAmazons

Never too old to row. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mrs. Dixon, quiet, kind and very organised. I love the way she manages Mr. Dixon.

For me, it’s *all* of them - the breadth and depth of Ransome’s female characters is part of what makes the books so rich, the many iterations of girl- and womanhood: bold, caring, cunning, imaginative, transgressive…

What about M. Braithewaite aka Cook?

The Ship's Baby changes from "fat Vicky" to Bridget. A girl who asserts herself, and knows her self well. "I knew I was old enough to be a human sacrifice" #SecretWater #SwallowsAndAmazons

Nancy was the first person who came to my mind, of course. She is the best. I also have a great fondness for Mary Swainson (A bonny lass, aye). I already mentioned it.

Bit of retail therapy this week! #Oxfamonline 3big green ones £15 +postage.

Mrs Barrable is a great person. When she found a capable crew, she decided to take the Teasel for a voyage so that the Ds could have some sailing. That the crew weren't adults didn't matter to her. It also gave Tom the option to get away. And she for Port & Starboard back in time for their race.

Captain Nancy Blackett of the Amazon pirates! And Peggy, whose frailties we see more often. Once or twice we see Peggy's care for her sister, too, with such poignancy. They were the heroes I needed as a youngster.