The day was just beautiful: gorgeous sunshine with a temperature of 11°C, though a 17 mph southeasterly wind made it feel like 7°C. As I began my walk, a man with a chocolate-coloured Labrador and a Golden Retriever passed by on the opposite side of the road.

   Upon arriving at the recreation ground, I was almost overcome by the powerful scent of the Alexander flowers growing along the banks. Two wood pigeons were feeding on the grass, seemingly unbothered by the youngsters playing football nearby. My ‘friend’ the Pitbull stood still, watching me as I walked by; he eventually ignored me, however, and settled into a prone position to lie in the sunshine.

   When I entered the cemetery, two partridges retreated rapidly, scurrying away on their tiny legs. It really is amazing to see the speed they can reach so quickly. Two or three wood pigeons were feeding on the grass while a few rooks circled the treetops; one group of four rooks was flying together at quite a pace. As I left the cemetery, a pair of blue tits darted into a nearby hedge.

   The Pitbull was barking loudly as I walked back past. I’m not sure what he was barking at, as I was already out of sight. While I waited at the crossroads near the care home entrance, a car pulled up with the head of a yellow Labrador sticking out of the window.

   When I reached the leisure centre, two rooks and two feral pigeons were perched on the rooftop. I watched as one of the rooks chased the two pigeons away. Finally, I spotted a lady and a young girl walking an impressive, large standard Poodle with a long, curved tail.

Today I walked for 2.46 miles in 55 minutes.

Google Fit awarded me 23 heart points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved

  The powerful wind was a real factor during my daily walk. When I set off, the temperature was 10°C (50°F), but it felt like 6°C (43°F) due to the strong west winds at 21 mph. The weather was mostly sunny, with the temperatures dropping to a forecast 7°C (45°F).

  I passed a man walking a spaniel-type dog; it was such a windy day that I hadn’t expected to see many people out and about at all. I was wrong: when I began to walk around the outskirts of the recreation ground, some youngsters were actually kicking a ball around, albeit with limited success. A flock of feral pigeons was flying around on the factory rooftops in the near distance.

  A gull looked beautiful as it glided across the windy sky with its wings outstretched, just floating along. Two rooks raced across at high speed, their powerful beaks leading the way. Wood pigeons were also speeding across the sky at a much faster pace than usual.

  A robin flew fast to a hedge and perched motionless for a few seconds before taking off again. Several wood pigeons were settled, feeding on the grass. There were quite a few rooks above the rookery, coming and going. Then, a single magpie flew by really fast—a streamlined, powerful avian jet.

  I made my way along the cemetery road, where the gusty wind powering against the leaves on the holm oak trees sounded like the waves of a windswept sea crashing into the seashore. A pair of wood pigeons were perched on the leisure centre rooftop in the throes of courtship. Eight gulls were gliding and flying around in the breezy conditions, making their loud, screeching calls to one another.

  When I passed the high wire fence around the five-a-side football pitch, the wind resounded through the wire with a low tone, much like the deep musical notes of a cello.

Today I walked for 1.84 miles in 39 minutes

Google Fit awarded me 23 heart points.

Daily Nature Log: 2 April 2026

The Conditions

  The temperature was 7°C, but it felt like 5°C due to a 7 mph northerly wind. Conditions were mostly sunny, with wind speeds causing it to feel closer to 3–4°C.

The Narrative

  My walk today was an unusual urban return home from the hairdressers. I started out in the town centre, where I passed quite a few dog owners walking a variety of breeds. I noticed a Schnauzer, a Spaniel, a couple of Cockapoo-type dogs, and a small dog that resembled a Pug.

  I walked across the central car park to Wey Road, where I photographed a shrub with buds on the point of bursting open into flower. Google Lens later identified this as a Cotoneaster. I also photographed some wild primroses growing through a moss-covered bank.

  As I continued towards the leisure centre, a couple of gulls flew overhead toward the golf course. 

  A young couple passed me walking a lively, dark brown spaniel with typical long, soft ears. I noticed a lot of blue Greater Periwinkle plants growing along the borders; one was quite a large plant, almost a shrub.

   An interesting event for me was seeing an elderly lady in walking shoes leave the golf course gates and cross the road in front of me. When she reached the veterinary surgery, she bent down to admire a wallflower plant full of yellow blooms, pausing to sniff the perfume. The next time I saw her, she was removing a large, empty plastic sack that had obviously blown from somewhere. I guess she is a kindred spirit—a fellow nature lover looking after the environment.

   I noticed a flock of feral pigeons flying speedily over the abandoned factory rooftop they use as a colony. A pair of gulls were perched on the leisure centre rooftop as I passed. Finally, I photographed some tiny blue Speedwell flowers growing alongside a large patch of dead-nettles on a grassy bank next to the recreation ground.

Today, I walked 2.29 miles in 51 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 21 heart points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

The Daily Nature Log: A Narrative Account

Date: 29 March 2026

  The thermometer claimed it was 9°C, but the Southwest wind had other ideas. With 25-mph gusts whipping across the landscape, the “feels like” temperature plummeted to a staggering 1°C. It was the kind of afternoon where the air doesn’t just brush past you; it tries to move you.

  At the children’s playground on the corner of Foxy Lane, I encountered a man with a rather stylish duo: a sleek Whippet and a medium-sized, chocolate-coloured dog that immediately caught my eye. Upon enquiry, the owner confirmed it was a German Shorthaired Pointer. A handsome creature, indeed. I left them to their walk and followed the song of a blackbird tucked deep within a shrub, its melody temporarily defying the gale.

  The outskirts of the cemetery proved to be a hub of avian drama. I disturbed several wood pigeons, including a pair caught mid-flirtation; the male was busy fanning out his tail feathers and posing with great affectation before my arrival sent the whole lot skyward. In the midst of the flutter, I caught the tell-tale swooping flight of a Green Woodpecker in “fearful escape mode,” a streak of colour making a panicked exit.

  The highlight of the trek, however, was the “music” of the pines. The wind hit the line of trees adjacent to the allotment site with such power that it mimicked the rhythmic rasp of a wire brush being dragged across the taut skin of a big bass drum. It was a haunting, percussive soundtrack to the afternoon.

  Near the cemetery road, I hit the jackpot: my “Sighting of the Day.” A pair of birds were hunkered down in the grass on the corner of the allotments. My hunch—later confirmed by the digital eye of Google Lens—was correct: Red-legged Partridges. The male was exceptionally well-marked and looked absolutely splendid despite the weather.

  I finished the loop past the leisure centre, noting a man with a brown and white Cocker Spaniel and four feral pigeons lined up like sentries on the roof.

The Final Tally:

Distance: 1.9 miles

Time: 39 minutes

Effort: 21 Heart Points earned in the face of a gale.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

Daily Nature Log: 27 March 2026

Weather & Stats

The temperature felt significantly colder than the actual air temperature due to strong winds; while the mercury sat between 11°C and 13°C, the wind chill made it feel more like 6°C to 9°C. Light rain showers and gusts of up to 28 mph added to the bracing chill.

Observations

Recreation Ground: I began my walk around the recreation ground, where I noticed a pair of rooks feeding on the grass; they rapidly flew away as I approached. Later, I spotted a single large white gull feeding in the same area.

Cemetery Road: Upon reaching the top corner entrance, I saw ‘my friend,’the Pitbull Terrier, bounding around his small garden and barking. The space was littered with chewed-up items, including a car tyre and other adapted jaw-strengthening toys.

Cemetery & Hedgerows: Entering the cemetery prompted a wood pigeon to take flight and land on a nearby hedge. In the rookery, the birds made contented sounds to one another while several circled the treetops. As I left, an unseen robin was tweeting from deep within the hedgerow.

Flora: Sadly, I noticed that the numerous daffodils along the cemetery road, which have been delighting the senses lately, are now seriously on the wane.

Leisure Centre: I spotted three feral pigeons perched on the leisure centre rooftop.

Canine Encounters: A yellow Labrador suddenly bounded towards me, tail wagging wildly as it begged for strokes and pats. The owner, a smiling young lady, apologised profusely; I grinned back and happily petted the dog. Near the end of my walk, I passed a lady walking a black greyhound.

Today I walked for 2.08 miles in 46 minutes.

Google Fit awarded me 15 heart points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

Daily Nature Log: 26 March 2026

Atmospherics & Conditions
  The actual air temperature hovered between 7°C and 10°C, though a north-easterly moderate to fresh breeze (15–24 mph) dragged the apparent temperature down to a nippier 6°C.
The walk began in bright, deceptive sunshine that carried a distinct chill.

Observations from the Field
  Foxy Lane: An invisible blackbird was performing a solo somewhere within the pine trees.
  The Playground: A standoff between two wood pigeons; one held the high ground in a silver birch, the other monitored from a wire fence.
  The Recreation Ground: Rooks were busy foraging near the cricket nets.
  The Garden: My ‘friend’ the pitbull terrier looked profoundly bored. Despite his fixed stare, his ears were alert to every local rustle. It’s a bit of a tragedy, really—a solitary life in a small garden, likely punctuated only by a brief lead-walk. His deep, aggressive bark followed me into the cemetery.
  The Cemetery & Leisure Centre:
Wood pigeons were in flight over the playing field, while the rookery was a hive of activity. On the leisure centre roof, a line-up of two gulls and three wood pigeons were spotted; the pigeons were busy canoodling, presumably prep-work for the spring breeding season.
  Botanical Mystery: The trees are currently flaunting strong, beautiful buds, but they remain anonymous for now. Google Lens, offered a buffet of conflicting identities to my photograph.
  The Finish Line
The walk concluded with a final trio of gulls (a pair and a loner) surveying the scene from a rooftop.

Activity Summary
Today I walked for 2.99 miles in 1 hour, 7 minutes.
Google Fit awarded me 23  Heart Points

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

Daily Nature Log
  The temperature today hovered between 6°C and 8°C, but with fresh 20-25 mph south-westerly winds, it felt significantly colder—dropping to a ‘feels like’ temperature of 4°C or lower.
  I set out along the usual route. Upon reaching the grassy area in Foxy Lane, I photographed a profusion of flowering red dead-nettles. Daisies and dandelions were also in bloom, and prolific alexanders were visible along the banks and borders everywhere.
  The wind was a formidable factor today. As I walked around the outskirts of the recreation ground, the headwind was powerful enough to physically slow my pace. When I reached the entrance to Cemetery Road, I spotted my friendly Pitbull Terrier on the trampoline in his garden. He totally ignored me today; I actually thought he looked a bit sorry for himself.
  As I began to walk the cemetery pathways, at least ten wood pigeons took to the sky. Interestingly, they headed towards the rookery where several rooks were circling the treetops. A blackbird scuttled along the grass and disappeared under a nearby hedge just as I reached the cemetery gates.
  At the leisure centre, I managed to snap a couple of good photographs of a small group of sparrows perched on the hawthorn hedge adjoining the care home.
I have been trying to capture a photo of these elusive little birds for ages!
  Walking by the five-a-side football pitch, I was intrigued by the sound of the wind whistling through the wire fence. It produced a humming tune, reminiscent of the low notes played on a harp or a viola. 
On my way back, I passed a lady walking a brown Cockapoo-type dog near Foxy Lane. Finally, I noticed a sadly unkempt garden on the corner of Cowslip Lane, which was carpeted in a vibrant mixture of wild dead-nettle and sweet violets.
Today I walked for 2.0 miles in 44 minutes
Google Fit awarded me 16 Heart Points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

Daily Nature Log: 24 March 2026

Weather and Atmosphere

The temperature ‘felt like’ 5°C to 6°C, despite actual air temperatures being slightly higher, due to light-to-moderate winds from the east-south-east or southwest. Afternoon wind speeds reached 19–24 mph (30–39 km/h), making the effective temperature significantly colder than the ambient temperature of roughly 9°C–14°C.

The Walk

A powerful, gusty wind was blowing when I left the house to begin my daily walk. I decided to walk in the opposite direction today and was amazed at how many blue Grape Hyacinth plants were in flower everywhere. They were growing in many private front gardens and along the grassy banks and borders; it’s obvious that these lovely floral delights spread like wildfire wherever they begin to grow. I also noticed a profusion of different varieties of blue Greater Periwinkle plants in flower under the hedges and on the borders.

Several rooks were feeding on the school playing field when I walked by, as most of the students had left by this time. I passed a lady walking a black Cockapoo-type dog as I made my way along Campion Way. When I reached the end of the road, I could hear the rooks in the cemetery rookery making a lot of noise. It’s amazing how far their loud, harsh calls travel.

Observations & Encounters

I took a short cut through a gap in the hedge in Foxglove Lane into the recreation ground and walked around to the entrance to the cemetery road. When I entered the cemetery, I began to walk along the central pathway, where I photographed a few rooks flying around above the rookery. A couple of wood pigeons flew off in alarm as I turned towards the cemetery entrance.

I noticed several gulls flying around as I approached the leisure centre road. Six jackdaws landed on the recreation centre rooftop and began playfully hopping around the edges. At least ten sparrows were flying around and perched inside the hawthorn hedge adjoining the care home, and a single sparrow flew up towards the leisure centre rooftop.

Finally, I met my friend Jonathan walking Jack, his Border Collie, and stopped to have an interesting chat with him.

Activity Summary

Distance: 2.68 miles

Duration: 1 hour, 0 minutes

Heart Points: 24 Google Fit points

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

The wind chill (feels-like temperature) at Gunton Hall, Suffolk, generally ranged between 6°C and 8°C (43°F – 46°F) during the day, accompanied by moderate easterly or southerly breezes of 10–15 mph. The actual air temperature was around 9°C to 12°C.
I started out on my daily walk towards the lake. A couple of pied wagtails were busy feeding on the grass, bobbing their tiny tails up and down as they hopped along. Many jackdaws and a few magpies were spread out across the grassy field, while several large gulls flew about with their wings outstretched.

Upon arriving at a thickly wooded area, I saw several grey squirrels racing around, dashing up thick tree trunks and burrowing under the leaf litter. The leaves were piled high over dead twigs and branches, affording the squirrels plenty of cover. Several varieties of daffodils were in bloom everywhere, though most were a variety with large, beautiful yellow blossoms.

At the lake, I snapped a photograph of a pair of swans dipping their heads under the surface to feed on aquatic organisms. I stopped to take more photographs of the blue lake and the contrasting yellow daffodils growing across the woodland floor. Many wild primroses were also in flower along the edges of the pathway, with a few yellow lesser celandine flowers growing amongst them, creating a veritable symphony of early springtime yellow.

Several mallard ducks floated by on the water’s surface; I photographed one framed by interesting hazel catkins hanging from a bankside tree. I also captured images of a moorhen floating near the edge and a black-headed gull perched on a rock in the centre of the lake. The swans remained busy feeding among the reeds on what seemed to be an inexhaustible supply of food.

I photographed a majestic stand of oaks alongside the lake and a cheeky little grey squirrel on the pathway, dwarfed by those ancient arboreal giants. Crossing a small bridge at the end of the lake, I paused for a few more photographs of the aquatic life. It was then that I had my first sighting this year of a butterfly feeding on a wild primrose. Sadly, I was unable to get a photograph before it flew away, but it had distinctive, bright yellow wings.
A search on Google confirmed that a yellow butterfly spotted in the UK during March is almost certainly a male Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). They are among the first to emerge from hibernation, often seen on sunny spring days with bright, lemon-yellow, leaf-shaped wings.
I completed my walk by a small pond, photographing a moorhen and a couple of mallards on the weedy surface.
Today, I walked 1.85 miles in 41 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 10 heart points

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.

  Dazzling yellow daffodils were everywhere, mostly growing healthily from bulbs planted by the gardening team—a rich investment with years of beauty ahead.    A couple of grey squirrels raced up the trunks of trees as I approached; they are numerous around here, feeding from the large ancient oaks, beech, and chestnut trees growing around the lake. As I neared the water, I noticed a couple of moorhens racing across the grass as fast as possible on their short legs.

  I snapped a couple of nice photographs of a large clump of the beautiful yellow daffodils growing near the lake. A pair of gulls was perched on a floating log in the centre of the lake, while several mallard ducks, both males and females, floated on the surface.

  I took a beautiful photograph of the lake and crossed a small bridge to the far side. A few moorhens were swimming around close to the edge of the lakeside. Two majestic swans were floating on the surface, and I managed to take a couple of good pictures of them.

   Along the bankside, many wild primroses were just coming into flower. Many mallard ducks, mostly males—conspicuous by the almost luminescent green sheen of their feathers—were soaking up the early afternoon sunshine. I captured a couple of beautiful photographs of one of the males before it slid down the bank into the water.

  A grey squirrel raced up a tree trunk as I approached, and several small birds flew into the safety of a thick bramble patch.  

  The wildlife here is prolific; later, I noticed a couple of rabbits scampering around the edges of a large evergreen rhododendron shrub growing at the side of the lake.

Today I walked for 2.72 miles in 58 minutes.

Google Fit awarded me 24 heart points.

Copyright ©️ Text, photographs and videos Written by John Yeo – All rights reserved.