Saturday, December 18, 2021

Mid December Walk and Festive Reading

Mist hung low over the trees and fields, the air was damp, drips fell from the branches and it was cold.  It didn't take long for feet and fingers to feel numb so we didn't walk as far as we had planned.

It was quite muddy in places and slippery too

There wasn't a soul about.  A woman with two dogs in the car park as we arrived, toweling them down after a muddy walk and one man unloading his electric cycle as we returned.  We passed him later on our way home just near the farm where two large camels had been added to their collection of birds and animals which include water buffalo, emus, rhias and reindeer.  I must look for when they have their open days next year.

The water in the lakes looked cold but not frozen.

There were a group of Goosanders on the lake.  Apparently the collective noun for a group of Goosanders is a 'dopping.'

Male and female Goosander according to the RSPB website. Talking of the RSPB I've just registered to take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch again in January so that is something to look forward to in the dark winter days ahead.

As we stood looking over the lake a heron flew in and landed in a nearby tree.  Almost immediately after a jay flew over the lake and disappeared into the woodlands.

The mud was slippiest around the stiles and gates.

Three different types of fungus on one branch.

On through the winter trees it was getting colder and colder.

Winter trees against the cold looking sky.

An Oak Gall

Female Pheasant on a fence 

and a male pheasant scooping up seed from under the bird feeders.  We sat in the car for a while drinking warm coffee from a flask.  There were lots of birds taking seeds from the feeders including Robins, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Sparrows, Chaffinches and Nuthatches.  Under the feeders with the Pheasant were one or two Dunnocks who, from a distance, looked like little brown mice running around.
 

Back home little has been done about Christmas as yet.  I sent cards and letters over a week ago and this last week we have received lots of lovely cards in return, some with letters inside. It's good to keep in contact with friends and family.  The tree is still in its box and the deorations are in theirs no doubt we will get around to putting the two together over the next day or two.  

I have a couple of books on Kindle to read which hopefully will help make me feel slightly more festive.

I'm enjoying Annie Gray's book about the history and customs behind our Christmas food and how it has changed over the centuries.  So far I've read about Boar's heads, Mince Pies and Gingerbread.  It's an absolutely fascinating read and so well written and researched.
 
I haven't read a book by the above author before but I'm looking forward to it. Country house, Christmas Day and people trapped in by heavy snowfall, a murderer in their midst  It sounds to have the right elements.
 

On the ipad I have two books on loan from the library.  Well, more than two as there are three Ryder and Loveday books in one loan.  I read the first three books in this series a while ago and decided to loan the next ones.  The books are set in 1960/61 in Oxford and I'm enjoying them.  Janice Hallett is another author I haven't read before and this one kept popping up in recommendations so I thought I would try it.

Well that's all for now, below is a still from the wildlife camera which we left out overnight one day last week.

Mr Fox and Mr Badger sharing the lawn.

22 comments:

  1. It's certainly looking bleak and wintry right now; we've had a couple of very foggy days with more forecast for tomorrow. The book about Christmas food sounds interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Festive food book is fascinating. Still misty mornings and grey skies here. Christmas lights are bringing cheer around the streets and brighten those dark late afternoons:)

      Delete
  2. Brrrr! Thank goodness for the coffee in the car! Some great bird spotting, I wasn't expecting the camels though, ha! If we get locked down again, you are well set with loads of books to keep you going. ☃️

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We sawsome lovely birds. It was great to have a flask of warm coffee as there are no refreshment facilities at the site. I'm enjoying a couple of the books so far:)

      Delete
  3. The fox and badger appear to get along.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They do seem to tolerate each other and share the dog biscuitsweput out for them:)

      Delete
  4. A walk even on a cold, misty day can be rewarding as you observe the birds and get some fresh air and exercise. It looks as if you have plenty of interesting books to read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was wonderful to get out for a walk in the fresh air and the cold seemed to highlight everything. It was lovely to see so many birds. I'm dipping into the food book and reading one of the fiction books at the moment:)

      Delete
  5. What a lovely wintery walk Rosie :) Its misty and murky here too today!

    I love that word for a group of goosanders and hadn't heard it before :)

    I love the look of the books you are reading or are about to - you have given me so many great ideas for authors to try and enjoy over the last few years and I do thank you.

    We do have the Christmas Tree up here and the cake is made although needs icing. I am hoping last year's mincemeat and a Christmas Pudding from last year will be ok this!! I braved the florists last week to buy a wreath for the front door and next week will try and do some baking.

    Take care :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you RR. Foggy, murky mornngs here too. The Appeal is different, in the form of e-mails and text messages but the story evolves easily and is quite intriguing. Christmas tree up at last. I will make a Dundee cake tomorrow as I haven't made a proper Christmas cake this year. We have to brave the supermarket tomorrow for the last bits and bobs. Take care:)

      Delete
  6. As ever I'm in awe of your garden wildlife. So beautiful. I love goosander too, such gorgeous birds, especially the female with her but brown quiff. Haven't been reading much recently, but a festive read might just be the end x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are very lucky to have the foxes and badgers, although the foxes are not about so much at the moment, I suspect they are off courting at this time of year. We hear a tawny owl during early hours as well as the foxes calling. I hoping the festive book is good and easy to read:)

      Delete
  7. * end was meant to read thing. Whoops!

    ReplyDelete
  8. It looks like a chilly walk Rosie! Lots of lovely nature and wildlife around to make it worthwhile though. I like your reading material. I really must read more often. Hope you have a good week ahead and begin to feel festive enough to put up the tree and decorations. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was very chilly Simone but so stark and beautiful the cold seemed to intensify everything. It was good to get back to the car and warm coffee though. Hope you too have a good week - the tree is now up and twinkling:)

      Delete
  9. There have been some miserable days recently with the horrid damp fog but going out regardless is a good idea I think, fresh air at least and it did look like you had a good walk with plenty to see! Great to see the fox and the badger too, quite exciting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We either wake up to fog or it comes down in the late afternoon making the Christmas lights on the houses glow through the mist. It was a lovely walk, we try to find quiet places. The badger was around yesterday and I think the foxes too. Plenty of squirrels running around during the day taking all the bird foord:)

      Delete
  10. Nothing better than a frosty winter walk. Yours looks lovely. Enjoy those books. B x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was enjoyable and lovely to get some fresh air. A bit of a mixed bag of books but I hope they will be entertaining:)

      Delete
  11. Looks peaceful and serene. I'm not near woods, so do most of my walking through the neighborhoods, and or city parks which are within walking distance.
    Sandy's Space

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We live on the edge of a city but within an easy drive of the countryside so are lucky to have both types of walking. It was a lovely but cold day:)

      Delete