I don’t normally take my camera with me when we go out for a walk in the afternoon with the two dogs but on 16th February the weather had turned from rain to cloud and sunshine and I couldn’t resist, since the weather warmed up from freezing cold and very great at the weekend it has just been raining! I was hoping to see the Stonechats that I spotted close to home a little while back and sure enough there was a male although a little distance away.

It was fairly quiet otherwise as it was quite windy, the little Dunnock below was getting buffeted about. There was also a Sparrowhawk in the hedge as we walked home, the birds were making a din and I just spotted the Hawks back as he flew off the hedge.

I noticed the Dog’s Mercury plant had suddenly appeared under the hedgerows one of the earliest flowers to appear, it grows under the trees in old woodlands, reminding me I can’t wait to head to Okeford hill and Bonsley common once we can move around more!