By the time I got out the bird life was already getting into roosting mode, and I don't blame them, it was very cold out there today. Patches of frost were still lying wherever the suns rays couldn't reach. It wasn't until I reached the large gardens that straddle the footpath that leads to the lake, that I finally saw some activity, SISKINS fed in some Alders, with a COAL TIT, a pair of NUTHATCH'S were busily chipping away at an old Oak branch, giving me some great views, but it was just too dark in the shadows for any photographs, more surprisingly I heard the lovely delicate sound of a TREECREEPER in full song.
Despite much searching of the treetops for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, it was not re-found, however GREEN and GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKERS were very much in evidence.
At the lake I was miffed to find it three quarters frozen over! A dozen MALLARDS crammed into the remaining open water, and two MOORHEN were under the overhanging branches, which kept the edge of the water ice free. Whilst I was there a GREY HERON drifted in and alighted on the ''Cormorants'' perch.
The sun very rapidly dipped below the horizon, and the temperature dropped equally as fast, time to go home for a hot cuppa, as I left I came across a small party of LONG TAILED TITS, I hope they find somewhere warm tonight, it's going to be a cold one.
Above: Iced Lake and the setting sun. Below: Frost at the small holding
6 comments:
Hi warren - I was under the (misguided) impression you were a bit older than a school boy! How are school Christmas dinners these days 40 years since I last had one...
Re your tree sitting cormorants good ole British ones or sinensis?
Have fun with the jelly
D
Looks like nice conditions to hear the Treecreeper song! I don't know about you but I much prefer this cold snap to the recent ongoing rain.
Only british Cormorants here Dave!
Re-Xmas Dinners at school - They're just as you remember them!
Hi Warren,
seeing the last picture, I realized it is colder in your are than in our! 10°C today, do you believe it?
Still I'm happy to see that you can see the sun. Today was a nice day here and we realized with my wife than even at this time, the sun stayed behind the mountains around the city, so that you do not see it anymore!!! Crossing my fingers so that you will see another new species for the month!
...I think our temps will be following yours. The mercury is supposed to drop over the next week and possible snow next week!
Warren: It looks like your weather in your part of Kent England is the same as Kent, Ohio. Neat photo of the lake.
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