Last Wednesday I managed the bike ride to Moniaive in nice sunny conditions, but also very chilly once in mid Nithsdale. There was a good view of a meadow pipit going up towards Newtonairds and further up another reasonable flock of redwings. Not quite sure where the fieldfares are, unless I'm missing them.
On the way back I noticed a clump of snowdrops that were almost out before joining a couple of others for a pacey ride as far as the Old Water bridge. But getting back home, I noticed a clump in my garden that were nearly in bloom too. No news there then!
In the garden, I'm astounded that the fish in my pond are still feeding regularly, even including the orfe, who usually disappear all winter long. This is testament to the mild if stormy weather. Last night the pond froze for only the third time and I'm shocked to see the lawn already needs mowing. I'm already sowing seeds for butterfly friendly plants indoors, thinking they might be going out surprisingly early.
Yesterday things got a little more interesting on my travels. Coming down from the Glenkilns toward Bogle Bridge, I stopped at the place where someone is obviously feeding the birds on a regular basis. as soon as I sat down on the wall, the coal and blue tits started appearing, so I started throwing some bits of apple out towards the tree and, sure enough, they came down to feed, later joined by a chaffinch and nuthatch. None of them seemed especially perturbed by the arrival of a mewing buzzard a hundred yards back.
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| How many birdies? What kind? |
Then just as I was thinking of heading home, a red quirrel turned up and started hunting for the apple chunks the birds had missed. Not sure if this gives the impression fully, but s/he actually got no more than a couple of arms lengths away:
After that I took a few steps back and tried to catch him again, but he went camera shy and, after a couple of peeks over the wall, decided to run off into the beech trees.
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