Fortunately
Sandra & Marge had planned this walk to stay mostly on the gravel tracks of
Dames Slough Enclosure in order to avoid the deep mud and standing water that
they’d found on the grassy rides and other footpaths when doing a recce. When
we set off it was a cloudy 7°C but the sun soon broke through and provided a
little more warmth.
There was a little
bird song from several species - Robin, Goldcrest, Great Tit - reminding us
that it’s not that long until spring arrives. The mosses on the woodland floor
and on the trackside banks were thriving after the wet weather of recent weeks.
Angela found an oak twig with one leaf completely unfurled and others beginning
to emerge, perhaps as a result of just having experienced the mildest December
since records began.
Bird noted included: Buzzard, Robin, Blackbird,
Goldcrest (below), Blue Tit, Great Tit , Nuthatch, Treecreeper,
Magpie and Bullfinch.
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| Goldcrest |