I was glad I had picked up my scarf and gloves for this morning’s patrol. However, it was no cold enough for ice on the pond, although patches of frost were to be seen on the track between Jack Basis and Haysom meadows. A waning Gibbous moon hung in the blue sky. On the edge of the wildlife garden a Carrion Crow duo had each found tall trees to perch upon. A pair of Great Tits visited the bird ringers’ feeders whilst Goldfinches paused in the upper branches of the host Ash tree. There were such clear views out to the urban coastline.
I blew a Wood Pigeon poo off a gate that I unfortunately found left open. It was not until I was a quarter away across Saxon Field that I stepped from shade into sunlight that cast my shadow. It also illuminated the dew drops amongst the sward. Upon entering Saxon, I felt an icy breeze and saw a Magpie upon the grassy path ahead of me. A Dunnock made a brief appearance. I noticed a cluster of half-opened Bristly Ox Tongue flowers before entering the drove. At Holcombe I was to hear then see some of the Herford Cattle in the depths of scrub cover of Herren Ground. Beside be along the drove were many white faces of the cattle peering out as they paused from browsing mostly Ivy leaves. A further twenty-five cattle grazed the meadow of Herren Ground. Upon the rump of one cow rode a Magpie whilst its mate flew about. At the bottom of Haysom two pools of water had collected. Before I reached my target, I set up a trio of Blackbirds from the hedgerow. I turned off the water supply to Jack Basis meadow. The fact the meter was racing, and the cattle were not using that water trough indicated we had a leak! In a trackside Ash a Chaffinch paused whilst it was an Ash that a Robin perched in.
In the empty Arable field, I managed the repair the broken bottom strand of electric fence. That was fortunate as by the time I left some fifteen cattle had entered the field. A risen sun was near over the Lighthouse a cast a dazzlingly beam which reflected off the sea. Returning to the centre I noticed Mexican Daisy growing out of the toilet approach walls. My final Dunnock encounter was we passed upon the timeline.