bird counting day

It is the RSPB's bird counting day today. You spend one hour watching the birds in the garden and record the maximum number at any one time. Of course, everyone puts out lots of bird food and as a result our garden is unusually empty. I am not sure whether or not we can count the buzzard sitting on the roof of Kitt's Cottage as in our garden. I have never before seen a buzzard sitting like this in the middle of our village, they usually avoid people at all costs; it is another sign I think that their behaviour is changing because of the cold, or else they were aware that it was bird watch day and decided to join in.

snow drops and snowdrops

some pictures from our walk today. The snowdrops are very nearly out, and the snow was falling once again.

pet twig returns to life

tions

it is that time of year again. Cold and still conditions have induced our pet twig to start flowering again (see link). I am not convinced that I understand this process.

first signs

It is always interesting, and up-lifting, to see the first signs of the new year's resurgence. Frog spawn appeared on 21/01 which is about a week earlier than last year despite the cold weather

my lane, goodnight, my lane

I'll see you in my dreams

Cornish cattle egrets

and on the way back, there was a little group of cattle egrets standing around in a field (full of cattle). These egrets used to be quite rare but are seen increasingly often in the South West (although probably still quite unusual, see link). They have distinctly yellow beaks, and yellow legs (except in the breeding season when they go red). The last time we saw cattle egrets was in Borneo a year ago in the blazing equatorial sun!