Cold and crisp!

We've had a few days of rather cold weather, alongside beautifully clear blues skies. Perfect for walking (or running!), and for jotting down sightings in the nature journal (which I did when I got back as I'd picked up the wrong sketchbook, oops!).

The start of the walk...

 ...and at the turnaround point at the bottom of the bridleway.

Plenty to see along the way. The buzzard was perched in its usual tree, and there were fieldfares hopping around on the cricket field. Past the stables and along the bridleway I found a heap of chicken manure which had been commandeered by three pied wagtails, who were chasing insects (and each other) pretty much non-stop. Spotted another perched buzzard; this one seemed very pale, breast feathers gleaming in the sunshine, but it was a bit too far off to get a really good look, even with binoculars.

Further down the track there were lots of yellowhammers in the hedgerow, along with chaffinches and a couple of reed buntings. The stand of large trees near the end of the bridleway had a good complement of rooks flying and settling up top.

About turn and a wander homewards to thaw out a bit!