Winter frosts and winter warmth

Frost on the Hogweed - goldfinches have long since eaten the seeds

December so far has been a mixture of warm and very wet days contrasting with a few frosty cold nights and mornings obscured by falling fog and mists along the river. The frosts gave way to warmer weather with torrential rains on 14th December, clearing to leave very damp but sunny days. Birds have to adjust quickly to the changes - well before we are aware of incoming bad weather they are preparing for the worst, frantically feeding up or collecting and storing food in the few short daylight hours.

A perfect day for planting, before the frosts with the ground still soft

but not waterlogged. The Riverside robins were watching from a distance.

Treecreepers and nuthatches are now clearly visible in the trees.