December 08'

Weather This Month

Max Temp =  10.8 deg C                 Min Temp = -5.2 deg C

Max Wind=   21.6 mph              Max Rain in 24 hr Period = 27.4 mm

Max Rain in 1 hr Period =  9.8 mm          Total Rain For Month =  133.1 mm

Diary

21st.  The most important date to me in December is today as we finally reach the winter solstice. The time when the Sun is at its furthest from the celestial equator will happen at 12:04 today and boy do I look forward to this time. Whilst it takes 2 or 3 months for the difference in light to be noticed at least my mind feels more positive from this occasion.

It is also the case that if you listen to the outdoors you will notice that life outside is also aware of the changes as the birds begin to, well not so much as sing, but start a few bit's of chattering amongst themselves with the Starlings being one of the first that really stand out as they begin to make all sorts of weird and wonderful whistles, clicks and abrupt notes. One bird which does begin full song around this time is the Mistle Thrush. A very relaxed drawn out song similar to a Blackbirds but more monotone to my ears. I have a microphone outside so I can hear what noise is outside even if it's to cold to have a window open. Talking of Thrushes the garden had two Song Thrushes feeding yesterday which is nice and a single Redwing rested for a while high up in Poplars at the side of the garden.

The temps have recovered of late with 9 deg C being recorded as I write this at 10:30 but this has been spoiled by the return of grey damp conditions. It seems that there is no chance of a white Christmas this year and it seems that the forecast is for a little sun more than anything.

7th.  Another cold night leading to below freezing temps and light fog. The garden is very picturesque with frost glistening on just about all the plants. It was not long before a favorite bird of mine, the Bullfinch turned up in the garden and began feeding on Viburnum Opulus berries. I reached for the digiscoping gear but as usual the subject disappeared. It was not to long before another lovely bird turned up and one, like the Bullfinch, has not been seen in the garden since the summer months, a Song Thrush. I took a few pictures of the visitors of the garden even though the fog and double glazing limited the quality some what.

2nd. The picture above was taken today by Mandy and shows the snow which fell in the early hours from 4am onwards. As November ended on a cold note so it was that December carried this on, and looking at the weather stats above you can see that is the case with top temp so far being just 2.2 deg C! I have to say it was a pleasure seeing what is more than likely the most snow locally (4") I have seen for ten years or so. First thing I did before setting off for work was to put out some sultanas on a platform as the previous nights sultanas were well buried!

It seems the birds have been flocking in while I have been at work as the bird food has been polished off in quite a few feeders. Looking back to the last day of November a lone male House Sparrow came to feed followed by another Goldcrest visit to the Ivy below the office window. It sat in the Ivy as though it was resting up before it resumed it's mad flitting around other plants in the garden.

The weather reports are showing a little snow and rain for Wednesday and then on Thursday we are down for more snow in the early hours...lovely!!