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Message: <blockquote data-quote="brianfm" data-source="post: 1392659" data-attributes="member: 11997">28th January.  The day was too good to waste so on my return from the fast fitness walk to the health centre I took my time to look around the patch.  There was one slight interlude as I returned home.  This cold weather can ‘narf’ effect the bladder! I had noticed the on leaving the house that the air was full of Robin song and I give up trying to keep count of Robins.  I also noticed that the lichens, mainly on the trees, but also on footpaths etc, were showing up really well.  My best find was the single Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria behind the old village.  This is the first one I have seen in 2009.  Over the next couple of months this particular little area will become covered with Celandines.  On reaching the church grounds I noticed that the large bracket fungi that I photographed last year were still there, but in ‘rotting’ condition.  I believe it is Giant Polypore Polyporaceae gigantean.I eventually reached the lake, this was after my forced interlude, and noticed the local club were out with their model sailing boats.  It didn’t seem to disturb the feeding Mute Swans!  What surprised me more was that there were 35 Canada Geese resting at the side of the lake.  I have never seen them here in such numbers and I assume they are on the move and simply taking a stop off here.  There were also two Greylag Geese and that is a first on patch for me.  There were of course the usual birds on the lake.  I counted 2 male and 4 female Goldeneye and watched the males displaying.  There were also two or three Cormorants.  I found Pied Wagtail and was pleased to note that the Grey Wagtail is still here too.The sun shone brightly as I circled the lake.  A Kestrel sat perched in the trees.  Once a common sight in the area, such sightings have become rarer since each patch of spare ground has been built upon.  By the time I had returned to my starting point and looked down the lake I could see mist coming in from the west.  I thought this might make a good photographic opportunity, and so it did.  The atmosphere changed quickly as the mist pushed up the lake and thickened around the trees.  The far end of the lake soon disappeared completely.  I crossed the road to the playing fields where there was a group of lads doing rugby training in the sun with their teachers.  By the time I had taken my photographs they were training in rather thick mist!  I had timed my walk rather well for atmosphere as the sun was eventually blocked out completely by the mist. It certainly turned very cold.  I made for home quickly now and I noticed that the birdsong had ended and there were few birds about bar Starlings, Rooks and Jackdaws!  A fire engine was visiting the old school where there had been quite a large fire a few days ago and I could smell the smoke still, in the misty damp air.  My cup of coffee tasted good!</blockquote>

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