Woodlife

The temperature didn’t creep above 5 degrees C this weekend, which wasn’t enough to fully melt shaded ponds and ditches but just enough to make the ground slightly soggy. Each day was bright and sunny; the sort of days where it was impossible to stay in.

On both days I went out for about 4 hours each, just wandering around the local woods. I had a look for tracks but in the local woods there was little to be seen. A few Muntjac tracks and a fading fox track. I was a little luckier in Outfield wood today (Sunday) where I followed the usual trail of fresh Fallow tracks to the west edge of the wood. I looked out of the wood to see a herd of about 15 Fallow deer. They were about 200m away browsing in the middle of a field. I didn’t get a chance to get any closer as they spooked away to the south.

I also tried out my new fingerless gloves made by Thinsulate (3 pairs for a fiver at the local market). A great bit of kit and something I should have got some time ago. The trouble is they keep snagging on any thorns or undergrowth I tend to walk through, so an outer pair of gloves is essential.

I finished the day by watching a Kestrel hunting in the local meadow. The country term for these great hunters is Windhover (for obvious reasons.) I’m pretty sure I’m right by saying this is the only hawk that actually hovers absolutely stationary regardless of wind condition. I noticed when it dived on its prey it didn’t actually swoop completely on to it but stopped just short and then sort of pounced on it. A wonderful bird.