Much less exciting this morning, the snow has mostly melted, the sheet ice has disappeared to leave puddles, and then the cold rain is falling.
I may have been a tad disappointed, but the birds seemed to be relishing the change in ground conditions with numerous members of the Thrush family seen.
At least 20 Blackbirds counted out across the muddy meadows, many of them on the ground probing the mud looking for some breakfast. The yellow billed males much darker than the dark brown females.
Two Song Thrushes dashing up a hedgeline, their speckled chests easily noticeable when they halted, each perched on a spindly branch of the Blackthorn.
Nearby, amongst the white wispy heads of the Old Man’s Beard was a Redwing, these thrushes turned up a couple of days ago with the snow and will doubtless disappear with it.
Today’s walk to me to the far north-east corner of the County Park to check on the Hereford cattle, which were busily munching on the now uncovered grass and on the bale of hay delivered for them, this is the hay that was taken from the meadows in September.
While out there a flock of 25 Starlings passed over in a diamond shaped formation along with loud twittering.
Nearer the coast as Kestrel was flying over, followed very closely by a Carrion Crow, may be attempting to steal the Kestrel’s breakfast, however it seemed the Crow gave up before succeeding.
Some noisy bursts of bird song to be heard, with the tocking of Great Tits contrasting with the churring of Blue Tits and the slightly squeaky song of the Dunnock.
The wheeze of a Greenfinch caught my attention, as it wafted from the sheltered huddle of the Bramble patch, I scan of the bush eventually located the yellow wing flash and greenish body, but also spotted was white wing flash of a Chaffinch and a Wren, puffed up making it look bigger than normal.
Running along the edge of a dry-stone wall was a Bank Vole, a small brown ball with a short tail, while Rabbits were munching on the grass and Grey Squirrels were scampering up the rough trunks of the Holm Oaks of the woodland.
Gently floating across in front of the window was Jay, the white rump especially noticeable as was the delicate pink and blue. Meanwhile a Magpie strutted on the picnic table, the stunning black, green, blue and white of these birds often underrated.
Later Reports : 13 Razorbills and about 50 Guillemots off the cliffs