New Year

We have finally bought a bird feeder. (What the RSPB call a feeding station). I avoided doing this for such a long time because of our two cats who have had an interest in chasing mice and birds, though the collar and bell helps. Now we only have one and at 13 she is no longer a hunter, (though wears a bell in case) so with the harsh winters last year and this year it seemed like the right time. The photo is from our of our kitchen window the day after the last big snow fall. As you can see the water holder is rather covered in snow....But I'm hoping that with the feeder there we may see more birds in the garden and will also be able to give suitable leftovers to our own birds instead of taking them to the crows and ducks in the riverside meadow.

So far this new year, the wildlife spotted has been the usual suspects: one spotted woodpecker seen by Jim on our walk today and several swans - but no kingfishers so far, no birds of prey, and no hares though we were on the walk where we have seen hares in the past (the Newport Pagnell circuit through Quarry Hall farm)