Frost Ice and Rain - our December Meet on 18th 2022

 OUR AIM IS TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE

Back to normal winter weather!

The first frost of winter 2022 occurred on the 8th of December ...-4  C and remained very cold (for us) for the following days with some snow on 12th:

Looking along the river bank from the East Bridge

The snow and ice formed a hazardous mix but there were definitely more birds foraging and singing as the temperature remained below zero. Blackbirds, three Redwing, Robins, wrens, a Grey Heron. The river environment itself remained warm. 

 Our meet on 18th December (brought forward allowing for the holidays) was a short one, as much of the usual litter was invisible under the snow and terrain conditions hazardous with ice on paths and roads remaining as it gradually turned warmer and started to rain. This proved to be the last icy day of the month as conditions changed rapidly.

What does 2023 bring? Hopefully good conditions for the survival of wildlife throughout the year. It will probably be challenging in many ways.

Our November Meet - Does Winter approach?

OUR AIM IS TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE HABITAT IT PROVIDES FOR WILDLIFE ALONG THE RIVERSIDE 

Our meet was held  on Sunday 27th November 2022, a damp, cloudy morning with light drizzle now and then. There were almost enough people to cope with the large amount of litter scattered on routes used by those getting from A to B whilst enjoying snacks. Football was mentioned as a possible cause! The haul was 9 bags of litter with no sightings of trolleys or abandoned bicycles this week, although the levels of river water may have hidden some.

The weather was clearly welcomed by birds, with more Song Thrushes singing again and reports of Tawny Owls heard at other times during the wet weather. Tawny Owls have held established permanent territory in the woodland areas here for many many years and it's good to hear them in the same areas, especially where there are old Oaks and old conifers providing plenty of shelter.

Oak leaves are still abundant on the branches this autumn.

Some Oaks are still retaining leaves whilst most other trees are bare after the windy weather.

Acorns are still crunching underfoot, far too many for small mammals and larger birds to collect and cache. Winter Migrants - Fieldfare and Redwing have been seen in small numbers but severe weather in Europe may yet cause many more to make the journey across the sea to forage along our hedges.