Siberian winds in November.

After the coldest night since records began for November the birds were whizzing around the bird feeders. Already we have had to refill them after yesterday's feast. Although Luke poured boiling water into the bird bath there was still ice forming within half an hour and two hours later the entire bowl had frozen solid. Likewise, as you can see, the chicken's water had to be changed twice in the day as it was froze solid.

Robins and snow seem made for each other; I suppose it's the abundance of Christmas images on those soon to be written cards that leads me to say it but it gladdens the heart to see that ball with it's intense red splash. I read this morning of a robin building a nest in the pocket a gardener's jacket which he'd taken off for his morning work. By lunchtime the nest was well under way. Whilst they are territorial and have been known to fight to the death with other robins we still consider them the friendliest of our garden birds.
We had goldfinches, various tits, the return to our garden of the blackbird, a lone nuthatch and chaffinch with it's apricot underside and a teeny wren (hiding in the legs of our garden chair, you may have to squint to find him) eating in the garden today. It's nice to be able to offer them a ready supply of food and we can just sit and watch them from the conservatory which is an idyllic way to spend half an hour. (Do remember, you can click on the photographs to get a larger image.)
 


Minus seven and a half degrees today and a colder night to come but at least we have the wood burner kicking out the heat. Lovely!