Cold snap

Looking out at the frosty garden has got me thinking about the birds a lot lately - have been putting water and food out but have few takers at the moment. The Common Gulls are an ever-present and dive down for the kitchen scraps, the blackbird was pecking at the apples on the lawn before the sunrise and the Blue Tits and Great Tits have been foraging around the bay tree. Haven't seen our resident Hedge Sparrow for a few days.

The cold spell has lasted longer than any for 10 years and warnings are being put about for people to avoid disturbing lake and shore birds and thus wasting their precious energy.

A snowy owl has been staying in Cornwall for a few days, but being thoroughly pestered by some twitchers - it appears from postings written on Birdforum - I think I'll keep the next Snowy Owl I see in Sussex to myself.