Saturday 29th December 2018

Another very mild and sunny day with a cracking sunset tonight.
Only the foxes were seen on the trail cameras last night. Can safely confirm now the hedgehogs have gone bye byes for the winter. Will continue to monitor however and will be leaving out food and water as normal. Hedgehogs do wake up periodically for good and water before returning to hibernate.
No sign of woodpeckers today but good sightings of long tailed tits, jays and lots of dunnocks.
All feeders topped up with a few extras to cover the period we are away for the New Year.
Cases are packed ready for the earlyish start tomorrow for our New Year break to St.Ives. Was a close call with Lorna being unwell, much better now so fingers crossed it stays that way.

Friday 28th December 2018,

Very mild and sunny day.
What a day for garden wildlife. I was feeling pretty chuffed as I was taking photographs of a female great spotted woodpecker feeding from the peanut feeder in the robinia tree when I was aware of a bird that flew on to a branch above me. Looking up I could be forgiven if I was dreaming. It was a green woodpecker. The great spotted woodpecker was not fazed and carried on eating. I managed a very poor image of the green which was sadly in amongst twigs, only stayed a matter of seconds before flying off.
Local FB followers made contact and it appears there is one that has regularly visited a garden for two weeks now, it is a garden very close to here. There have also been sightings in the Elgar Road area recently. All good news.

Thursday 27th December 2018.

Mild but a very misty, foggy day.
A large part of the day was taken up in giving my bird feeders a thorough clean. After recently rain they had become very mucky.
Uncanny this. A year ago go the day and almost the hour I recorded a sighting of a pied wagtail ground feeding. Today I photographed a pied wagtail within two hours of last years sighting. Hope it stays now ready for the breeding season.
Another night of no show of hedgehogs. Clearly hibernating now. 

Boxing Day Wednesday 26th December 2018

Mild, dull and an overcast sort of day.
Lulu and Clive over for the day for the traditional Boxing Day Feast. Not as planned due to Lorna still not well so was a cold food buffet. Was good but a shame Lorna still has no appetite for food.

No wildlife news today.

Christmas Day Tuesday 25th December 2018

Very low temperature overnight but the day was very mild.
Another night when the hedgehogs stayed at home but the foxes were out as usual.
                 Due to Lorna still not well it was not the conventional Christmas. A salad Christmas Dinner tested my cooking skills!
Santa looked after me again however with some ace pressies.
A couple of quality Handykam bug boxes, squirrel proof feeder, my favourite ale, Poachers and lots more. Cheers Santa.

Christmas Eve Monday 24th December 2018

Mild but mostly an overcast day. Low night time temperature again.
A visit to Henry Street this morning for logs and kindling. Forecast is for the warmest Christmas ever so think I could be storing the logs for a while.
                No sign of the hedgehogs again last night, just the foxes. Surprised at the number of dunnocks in the garden today, also female chaffinch and loads of blackbirds.
Chimney cowl off and the stove doors open, mince pies and sherry left in the living room - don't let me down Santa.

Sunday 23rd December 2018

Mild and sunny day. Temperature dropped dramatically overnight however, -7 recorded.
First night this season the hedgehogs did not appear. The fox pair were out as usual as was a rather fat rat.
Managed photographs of a female great spotted woodpecker and a jay feeding from the peanut feeder.
            Ready for Christmas now, sat in the observatory most of the day, contemplating, observing and reminiscing on 2018. At the same time enjoying a glass or two of whiskey and listening to more of George Ezra and Status Quo.

Saturday 22nd December 2018

Mild and sunny day. Temp' reached 13c this afternoon.
Good day for wildlife with sightings of a hoverfly, female great spotted woodpecker, a jay, squirrels, hedgehogs, foxes, mice and reindeer.

Tidied the house today ready for hopefully a relaxing Christmas. Enjoyed an afternoon sitting in the observatory listening to George Ezra, glass of whiskey and watching mice activity on the monitors.

Image 1 - Jay with a monkey nut.
     "    2 - Spike leaving his food box.
     "    3 - Streeeetch.
   4 & 5 - Spike in its food box.
     "   6 - Look for the eyes, a mouse.
     "   7 - Clear off you lot, this is my patch.
     "   8 - Foxy on the Hogtel decking.
     "   9 - A hedgehog outside the Hogtel.
     "  10 - A hoverfly.
     "  11 - A female great spotted woodpecker.
     "  12 - Tufty at the sunflower hearts.

Friday 21st December 2018.

Very wet evening again. Mild and sunny day.
A day basically preparing for Christmas, wrapping presents and a bit of a tidy up.
Hedgehogs and foxes out again last night. Today three squirrels and a jay were queuing up for the monkey nuts. Only topping up once a day now due to the amount they were getting through each day. Some cracking images of a Robin in the bird bath this afternoon, rather appropriate as it is National Robin Day. Who comes up with such days?

Thursday 20th December 2018

Heavy overnight rain but a good day. Mild and sunny.
Our annual Christmas trip into town to browse and enjoying a dinner at Cafe Rouge. Something we have done for years now.
             Checked the SD cards tonight and once again the trail cameras confirmed the hedgehogs are still out each night, still eating well. Foxes also out as the usual rats and mice. 
A young dead rat spotted on the path this morning.
The male sparrowhawk was in the garden again as was a female great spotted woodpecker.
More fungi appearing in the wood stacks.

Wednesday 19th December 2018

Weather today a marked improvement on yesterday. Mild and sunny until tonight when the rain reappeared. Beautiful sunset.
A good morning meeting up with my chums at Lavers, I still do not feel I know longer work there. Will be 7 years on the 22nd.
                   Met with the cousins for the annual Christmas get together at Mapledurham golf course. Good that Les and Janice were able to join us this year after a long drive from Salcombe. 
Could not wish for a better day to appreciate the local countryside while eating a delicious Christmas dinner then drinking coffee as the sun was setting. 

Tuesday 18th December 2018

Mild but as wet as you can get it. Dreadful.
Indoor Christmas decorations up today, only the minimum mind, just a 🌲. The outdoor tree uplighting is impressive as are the deer family.
The deer family are tonight reflected in the flooded lawn. Had enough of this wet stuff now.
                Hedgehogs out again last night as were the pair of foxes.  A trail camera also captured good images of Tufty collecting leaves for the drey box. Collecting dry leaves from under the conifer trees. 

Monday 17th December 2018

Mild and sunny. Last nights rain however has made the garden rather mucky.
A little preparation for Christmas today. In town for a few personal bits but came home on same bus. A Monday and the town was buzzing. I don't do buzz these days.
            Trail cameras confirmed the hedgehogs are still out of a night. Foxes, rats and mice also out helping themselves to left over hedgehog food.
Sitting in my armchair this afternoon I was aware of a large bird flying over the pond. I had a good view looking through the V of the silver birch tree. I was holding my camera as had just taken a photograph of a sparrow. This enabled me to capture a reasonable 'in flight' photograph. It was a sparrowhawk with a great tit in its claw. Flew to a fence post where it devoured the great tit.
Jays busy again feeding on monkey nuts. Squirrels also taking the monkey nuts but burying them for future meals. Tufty also carried more oak leaves into the drey box.

Sunday 16th December 2018

Much milder today, temperature reached 7c this afternoon. Terrible late afternoon into the evening with heavy rain.
Day spent connecting the tree uplighting and family of reindeer. Looking good, just wish it was not so wet. Have had to make sure all connections are waterproofed.
                 Jays busy feeding on monkey nuts, there was a pecking order as Tufty was also vying for the monkey nuts.
Tufty also spent a fair amount of time taking in mouthfuls of oak leaves to the drey box.
Hedgehogs and foxes out again last night.
Amazing amount of fungi appeared overnight. 

Saturday 15th December 2018

What a dreadful day. Cold and very wet particularly this afternoon.
Made an attempt to connect up the uptree lighting but sadly had to abort the job as was getting rather wet. Not good when working with electrics.
Checked out last nights SD cards and as you would expect the foxes, hedgehogs, rats and mice were out enjoying leftover hedgehog food.
Tomorrow also looking wet but Monday at the moment is looking good so hopefully can finish the outdoor Christmas lighting and other surprises.

Friday 14th December 2018

A very hard overnight frost. The rest of the day remained very cold but also sunny. A superb sunrise.
Checked out three days of trail cam' images, nearly 5000. At the moment the hedgehogs are still very active and are in and out of the feeding box dozens of times a night.
Both foxes also out along with the rats and mice. There was a dead young rat on the path this morning, a little frozen!
Was hoping to connect up the up-tree lighting tomorrow but forecast is wet for the weekend, may be put on hold.

Thursday 13th December 2918

A very cold and sunny day.
Today spent at Wisley, two good walks enjoyed. Stayed until 6pm to experience the Glow Walk. The woods, lakes and the giant glasshouse were aglow with all manor of coloured lights. Some amazing affects especially with the reflections.
Not sure on wildlife this week, hopefully will get a chance tomorrow to check out the SD cards.