The morning was a bit of a change from recently – no sunshine and no frost – instead a grey overcast dullness!
Along the hedgerow towards the woods, small round pale pink balls were scattered across the Japanese Spindle, showing up against the thick shiny green leaves. Nearby on the ground a large patch of Winter Heliotrope, large leaves but no flower spikes spotted.
The tall thin leaves of Stinking Iris, upright alongside their orange berries, while the wider leaves of Harts-tongue Fern, showing well in the woods.
Clambering across some wall and bushes the Ivy, some of which has some clumps of purply-black berries, which can be a great food source for many birds at this time of year.
A patch of dark reddish-maroon stems of the Dogwood provide an area of colour to the wander, and flitting through these thin stems was a Robin, who then proceeded to sing loudly and long.
In amongst the woodland trees it was quite dark and gloomy, but not silent, as there was much bird sound to be heard.
A chittering of Blue Tits from the tops of the Sycamore, was accompanied by a chatter from a couple of Great Tits. As these birds moved the yellow chests could be seen, just showing against the grey light.
From the twigs of the Elm came the high-pitched calls of a Goldcrest, a flash of gold on its head, spotted only after a long search through the trees!
Looking up, the shape of the Black Pine was stunning, and alongside it the Wood Pigeons were calling as were Jackdaws and Carrion Crows.
On the Black Poplar a Jay was for a moment sat, until taking off again, flashes of blue on its wing.