Still snow!

When I awoke this morning the snow was still deep, but crisp and not so even. It had frozen overnight so was very crunchy under foot. My road is very quiet at night, but by 6.00 a.m. I'd heard four cars crunching their way, albeit very slowly, up the road.

Sitting watching the usual bird visitors, I was aware that a fox had been in the garden overnight - he'd left telltale footprints in the snow!

I swept the paved area that leads up to the garage and by this time the sun had come out. So - tools away!!

As the sun shone early this morning it lit up the snow-laden trees around me. This was much more the Magical Winter Wonderland than the dull skies of yesterday.






Having done some very necessary food shopping, and following a phone call from SPD (my daughter) we decided we'd head off for Boxhill . No sledge available but J had brought a plastic tray from home so.....

Starting out at the bottom of Box Hill

having slid down to the bottom..

We started are upward climb to find this view from about half way up

Still on our way up but beginning to slide...

and falling off the tea-tray :D

so Mum decides to help....

but J ended up in the same position - flat on his back

Finally, at the top J decided it was about time Mum did some sliding too so, with very little encouragement...

and a gentle but well meaning (I think!) push..

which ended in mixed success!!

Looking out at the world from the top (well almost the top!)

After all that exercise, it became necessary for a well earned snack at the cafe back down at base camp.


Having dropped my charges at home, I had a quick nip into Bushey Park. By now the sun had virtually disappeared and a great deal of snow had melted losing that magical quality.
The ponds were frozen solid, so the waterfowl were walking on water - or, more accurately, ice!








But, tomorrow the school reopens and SPD is on night duty. However, it's been a great two days, entirely unplanned, and great fun! Thanks SPD and J :D

We're at a standstill - it's snowed

We had about 30cms of snow overnight and dawn broke - white! So out into the garden brushing the snow off the feeders and clearing bird baths. The garden became alive with birds!
Starlings


Goldfinches

The is the second Blue Tit I have visiting the garden, that has a deformed beak. Whereas the other bird's deformity is restricted to being just a longer beak. this one is considerably longer and crossed.

Having watched both birds feeding, it seems that they can get food up (from the ground) better by turning their heads sideways. I do hope they can get enough food to keep them warm in this weather.



The Paras have landed (or are about to)!




Foraging Blackbird


The garden

Looking out of a front window

Across the back gardens




Then this afternoon I met my daughter (SPD) and grandson (J) on the local golfcourse. En route I passed a couple of snowmen

Although I think this is a Snowdog!


Then through the woods...

and across the golf course to the church and Marney's Pond


We met by the pub on the green and had a drink. From the amount of people in the pub it was more like a weekend day rather than a Monday!!

J decided to start a snowball...

and unbeknown to him, his mother came up behind with a large amount of snow and...

...dumped it over him!

J then decided to made a Snow Angel - but I couldn't get a picture of - simply snow!

Back through the woods to home.


The weather may have thrown airports, traffic and public transport into chaos but I passed so many families out playing in the snow and it was good to see them having, it seemed, a great time - at least if all the laughter was anything to go by.

It's reported that we've had the heaviest snow for 18 years! Tonight's forecast: a heavy frost with -2 degrees C- which means it will be very very slippery tomorow - lovely! :(

Then - home for a cuppa. What a day!

Cold and wind brings the birds

I've been birdwatching today - from my windows. It's freezing out there. I've got my Grandson visiting this p.m. and the suggestion of a walk was not greeted with rapt enthusiasm. Can't say I blame him!

The cold snap has brought in the usual suspects but I've not seen a brambling for two days now. The blue tit with the irregular beak is still a regular and constant visitor. I've noticed how it turns its over-long beak to one side to get at food on the ground. If it can perch on the side of the mesh tray, then it can get food conventionally as the depth to where the foods is will accommodate its beak length.

Today's visitors:
Magpies x 2
Blackcaps x 2 (1 x male; 1 x female)
Song Thrush x 1 (infrequent visitor)
Goldfinches x 17
Chaffinches - 2 x male, 3 x female
Greenfinches x 9
Robins x 2
Ring-necked Parakeets x 7
Jay x 2
Blue Tits x 3
Wood Pigeons x 4 (doesn't happen that often)
Feral Pigeons grrrrrrrr 20+ (happens all too frequently)
Starlings x 3
Blackbirds x 3
Coal Tit x 1
Great Tit x 1

Greenfinch (male)

Blue Tit

Female Chaffinch

Blue Tit - with fluffed-up feathers trying to keep warm.



And as I finish this, we've just had a flurry of snow - but now there's no evidence of it. Methinks we'll wake to a white world in the morning.

AN UPDATE

I've just taken my grandson home and as I was driving back, it started to snow. Now - about 30 minutes later (it's 19.15) - everything is white!! So footprints in the garden by morning will, hopefully, identify my overnight visitors.