It has, officially, been a very wet January but not very cold.
Part of the job of the Estate Team where I am a volunteer, is looking after the Sheep (which are our chief grass cutters). We regularly have to count them and sometimes we see little visited parts of the reserve to check them. So it was last week, and I was surprised to see a Hawthorn bush with flowers, but not visible from public paths.
This is an unusual occurrence on the common Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna, but not unknown with the Glastonbury Thorn beeing the best example. However, as there are few insects at this time of year there will be no pollination so no haws for the birds.
More easy to see, and not quite as rare a sight, is the Cowslip, Primula veris, which is flowering on the car park. Flowers of this can often be found from autumn through to spring.
While checking the sheep on the Wilderness Trail we saw Redwings and Fieldfares, which have been uncommon this winter as food has been available on the continent. Less common for us was a Grey Wagtail, also on the Wilderness Trail.
Wishing you all a Happy (Chinese) New Year,
Peter