Sunday 11th January 2015
A fine start to the day, cold but sunny, clouding over later.
Winter - waiting for the first signs of spring.
There have been some overnight frosts but also more of the very dark overcast days when daylight never seems to arrive - the dawn merging into evening gloom. Rainfall has not been heavy so far and the river has only overtopped its banks once during the first 11 days of the year.
Waiting for the spring - waiting - perhaps that's not the right word, preparing for spring would be more accurate, as underneath the winter layers we see, the riverside is teeming with life.
The winter foraging blackbirds, song and mistle thrushes, fieldfare and redwing rely on this life - I have been watching them throwing the fallen leaves and dried stalks aside to take advantage of the food beneath, together with many other birds, from great tits to buzzards.
Another look at our 'Scrape' (see also November 25th 2014 post)
Today the wind from the north was creating waves on the southern edge.
It is gradually filling with water and some planting has been carried out in blocks on the margins.
Birds are finding shelter at present on the far margins where the new planting will add to the available protection from the winter weather.
Winter food and shelter
Last summer's wild grasses and plants all sustain wildlife over the winter providing seeds for seed-eating birds and shelter for small mammals hunted by birds of prey. Its most valuable role is to prevent river bank erosion and collapse. The roots bind the earth and the strong stalks and branches protect the banks from being washed away by fast flowing water.
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