Snow again

There was a brilliant moon last night which was quite spectacular. Unexpectantly and quite suddenly snow fell heavily. We switched on the security lights so we could watch the flakes as they fell. It was exciting to watch the swirls in the light. it snowed again this morning but fell in large wet flakes. Snow is predicted again tomorrow!

Guess who I saw yesterday?

Roly is peeping over the top of the gazebo at me. He had been eating on the bird tray and was not frightened when I approached to take his photo. He climbed up on to the gazebo and hid behind the structure and waited for me to go. We had a sprinkling of snow yesterday followed by a hard frost which froze the snow.

Rain

It has been a really rainy day today, but not really cold. There is still ice in the fish pond but it is melting slowly. The net to stop leaves falling in the pond has now been lifted. I noticed that some of the plants are starting to wake up from their winter sleep and put on new growth. The Daffodils are peeping above the soil as well as the Bluebells. No sign of Roly today.

Starling in a Rat Trap

Roly was out gathering seed today. I saw him running to and fro and decided that I would have to "get" him. I dropped a bait block down his hole in the Lavender border and then set the rat trap under the bird table. Later when I looked out of the kitchen window I could see the trap had been sprung. Yay! I thought, got him. I went outside to check on Roly, only to find a Starling in the trap. I opened the door and let him free. He flew off gladly. The trap is set again tonight but what I will do with Roly, I don't know. In a way I will be sorry when I do catch him or maybe the bait block will do it all for me!

No Snow

The heavy snow that was predicted never arrived and it was a grey, dull, soggy day. There is still ice on the splash pool and on the pond, although the temperature is quite warm.

Roly

I saw Roly out and about today. He was scurrying from the hole in the wall of the piggery where the electricity cables pass through to under the bird table. He was cramming his cheeks full of seed and dashing first into the under growth and then under my car on his way back to the hole in the wall. I went out and set the rat cage on his run. Clever rat, I am sure he knew to avoid it as he changed his route and continued taking seed back to the piggery. Perhaps the trap will catch a bird instead. It is grey and overcast and a day to stay in bed. Snow is forecast for tomorrow.

Seeds

It was so warm outside today that I was tempted to start weeding, but just never managed to get started. I did manage to sprinkle Hollyhock seeds that David gave me last year, in front of the piggery. They are very dark red so should be quite different.