Monday 27th December

The thaw has started at last...temperature above freezing this morning and the house feels positively balmy.
Goosestep  and Bobblehead appeared early on , with a group of about 10 greedy youngsters arriving later.

Old mans beard and rosehips on the way to the lake.



the snow melt is running down to the lake under the ice gradually melting it.

I then came across a bizarre scene, I saw a deer struggling by the fence, I assumed I had startled it and it had become entangled, I stood still to wait for it to calm and saw another creature streak away up the path, I was so surprised I didn't really take it all in, but it appeared to be badger sized but black and tan, the deer got away but left a lot of fur and blood on the fence, I still haven't worked out what had happened but I think the deer was injured, in this cold weather it will be difficult for it, at one time there was a gamekeeper you could pass these things to and he would keep an eye out and if necessary shoot the creature but things move on.