Winter visitors

 As said before, it has been chilly in the south recently

With the bird bath often frozen, local birds have been making use of the rill, waterfall, cascade, whatever we call the mechanism for delivering moving water into the pond below. I was amusing myself by watching one of the very fat wood pigeons trying to give himself a bath with not enough depth to do so. He flew off and I was just about to carry on with morning tasks when at least three of these little delights arrived.

I wouldn't have recognised them but for a recent message from my good friend Steph who also had some in her garden. They are redwings, a thrush relative who visits the UK over winter. I was delighted to see their pleasure in finding some running water to drink, and obviously at least one of them is stil begging for food from mum, so must be from this year's brood. 

We have plenty of holly and yew berries for them to feed on in the garden, so hopefully I will be seeing them again.

Aren't they a delight?

winter arrived

After weeks and weeks of weather so mild that nature was beginning to think spring was imminent  

the temperature plummeted. Recent mornings have been scattered with frost, illuminated by blue skies or draped in mist. We have had to prise ice from the bird bath and refill with wet water, much to the delight of the starling squadrons. 

Leaves and late flowers have looked magical, though the outside tap has turned into an unregulated fountain in need of repair. 

My seafront walk yesterday evening suggested that weather was on its way,

 but very slowly, the air was so still

This morning there were still billowing clouds hovering over the sea

but the day was quiet and rather soggy. Then temperatures began to drop again, and snow arrived with some enthusiasm.

I wonder if your world is white as well?