Sunday 5th December - Slight thaw but still bitter

A late afternoon Sunday stroll around Petworth Park with Sally and Adie was the only real outdoor activity this weekend, much of the snow has thawed but freezing temperatures ensure white patches remain and icy bits are now the largest road problem, the Land Rover is great in snow but it does what every other car does when it hits a patch of ice -you've just got 4 wheels independently spinning rather than all together. Petworth Park is only 2 miles up the road but is not a location I particularly enjoy for birding - I don't think Capability Brown was a birder - just did great landscapes. Familiarity with the large London Royal parks that are basically a big Deer enclosure, slightly manicured and lots of dogs (despite the deer). The lakes were largely frozen with a small patch of clear water on each only holding Mallard and Moorhen , with a pair of permanent Egyptian Geese a few Black-headed Gulls and a single Common Gull being the extent of lakeside inhabitants. A flyover Redpoll was calling but not seen, 3 Siskins were in the lakeside Alders with Long-tailed Tits, Chaffinch and Great Tit and 2 Skylarks flew over ... and that was it, but Adie had fun running between the herd of Deer crossing the path ! .. a few more snow pics from Friday below.
Monday is my course day and the  rest of the week is a busy work week and I imagine next weekend I will have to think about what's needed for Sri Lanka .. can't wait - somewhere warm !!!

House from field

Yellowhammer in Garden