strange days - bumblebees in winter

It was the coldest night of the year, with a hard frost and a contemplative horse. Nevertheless, much to my surprise there were bumblebees about on the mahonia, and viburnum, both of which lent a sweet scent to the crisp cold air.

new moon time

New moon at Christmas. And a happy New Year from Spot.

rainbow over Lammerhooe

something to brighten up the morning walk on the road to Latchley

hibernators

a queen wasp fast asleep in the wood pile (and saved from the flames)

and a motley collection of harlequin ladybirds

autumn colours

Once again it has been exceptionally mild this autumn. Mushrooms are out in abundance and they provide a few flashes of vivid colour in an otherwise black and brown world. It was genuinely amazing and pleasing therefore to see the brilliant flash of blue of a kingfisher flying swiftly through the bare trees deep in the woods at Inny foot. The rivers are quite swollen, fast flowing and turbid now and I wonder how kingfishers are seeing enough fish to survive on.

thank you

Why? Why put rubbish neatly in a plastic bag and then chuck it out into the countryside?