The Journey Begins

I went to sleep to the sounds of fireworks exploding in the night time sky and awoke to the sound of a single song thrush heralding the arrival of dawn; just like a lone piper on the turret of a remote Scottish castle. 

Song thrushes have had a hard time of it over the last 30 – 40 years or so, however they still cling on here in Paddock Wood, although in diminished numbers.  It’s good to hear their wonderful song first thing in the morning, especially during the spring time.

With December 2015 being the warmest December since weather records began I was surprised to see a slight frost on the lawn this morning. 

It will be interesting to see if the exceptionally mild weather conditions will continue this month. In September last year the newspapers were writing that the met office were predicting that this winter would be the coldest for a very long time. Plenty of time to see if they will be correct, or not.

Along with the song thrush I was pleased to see and hear the flock of Jackdaws celebrating the new year, above the skies of the western side of the town. Jackdaws are a recent regular addition to the town’s nature scene. Yes they have been around for quite a few years, but their numbers are now such that for the last year I have seen and heard them every day and they are such a pleasure to behold. My favourite member of the crow family, although recent DNA analysis is now casting doubt as to whether they are a true corvid or not. 

If you watch and listen to them they are like children playing in the school yard at break time. Never still, always ducking and diving  in the sky, calling to each other in an excited fashion. Occasionally they stop on a nearby roof and then they are off again for another game of ‘Jackdaw tag’ !

Well my time is limited today, so that’s it for now, but at least it’s a start on nature’s ride through Paddock Wood during 2016.