What have you seen

We have comings and goings, always have done. Our garden was full of birds, went away for a three week spell (feeders not refilled) came back about 10 days ago. Garden still empty having cleaned and refilled. Our friends garden on the other side of the town is full of them. Quality of available food can also attract them elsewhere. They will stay with a regular and reliable food source and slowly return as and when essential. Have faith. However they do need our help as our wildlife in general is suffering due to many factors, most caused by us. The grass may just be greener the other side of the fence at present.

Just made me remember my Gran’s garden with that turkey carcass hung from a branch. Starlings soon found that! Today we rarely see a starling, just the odd one or two. Nothing like the numbers that mentioned feast provided.

The site we are on at present has a couple bird feeding stations and they have been in position for years, and are very well populate. The usual Tits, including Longtails, Tree Sparrows and Great Spotted Woodpeckers are regular visitors, along with the occasional Siskins. There are also Tawny Owls in the trees around the site and the other night, while out for our last walk, I heard and then saw at least 2 foxes watching us from a distance.

On a CS last week and spotted a pair of green woodpeckers, spotted woodpecker, Jay, red kit and moorhens on the lakes.

The site owners all black cat called zeus was the size if a young  black panther if that counts, probably why we saw no rabbits!

Currently at Dulverton and seen only the odd blackbird.

If you've got clear skies there's an excellent view of Jupiter close to the moon just now with red Mars not far away.

I used to be in awe of such heavenly sights, sadly my eyesight isn’t what it used to be, nor do we seem to get those clear nights when countless stars and planets studded the vista. Make you realise how amazing ‘things’ (lost for the right word) are. We are here for only the minuscule micro moment in celestial terms but sadly what damage we can do to our own planet and the life on board,

I don’t have Britbox but I do have ITVX I’ll check if it’s on there MSF👍🏻

Oh my, Scarborough has an unusual tourist there at the moment. Thor, an adolescent Walrus. A first for Yorkshire, he’s being closely monitored and protected from too much attention. Having a bit of a rest…….

Had a Black male Redstart in the garden today so he has not decided to go south.

We have good black skies here and managed to see 3 planets and the moon tonight but Thursday when all planets were in line we had cloud and rain.

Wintersweet from our garden, lovely scent,  we also have pink Camellias out, the ever reliable St Ewe from Cornwall. Surprising what is appearing from the wintery gloom.