27th December, 2012...wild-bird-fest!

Finally got out of the house and to the Abbey to try out our new binoculars(a gift to ourselves!). It was quite busy down here, with lots of people dog-walking and having a snack at the Abbey Mill cafe, so Frankie couldn't resist his usual (bowl of chips) either!

The binoculars helped us to spot lots of different wild birds- a robin, a woodpecker, a blue-jay, four blue tits and a mad blackbird trying to get access to a new 'fatcake' that had been put on the cottage bird table- the blackbirds in our garden can't get these because they are too high, but this one had a wall to give it a leg up!

(Look closely to spot the blue tits!)

Oh... and a 'V' formation of geese flying to who knows where!

It is still very muddy down here, and we did spot the 'community payback' crew working on weeding and edging some of the pathways that had got very sloppy and overgrown. Good for them!

There are a lot of rhodedondrons growing along the paths up in the Abbots Wood area, and the lady from Abbey Mill was telling us that one of the conservation volunteer groups are coming up to have a clear out in the new year. Some of the bigger rhodedondron bushes are quite 'choked' with brambles and stuff.

There was a little bit of blue sky today, and it was worth a trip down here. Get off the bus at the hospital and a ten minute walk gets you to some lovely rural walks( and a cup of tea if you are lucky)!