Daily Nature Log. 13th January 2026

   I started out on my daily walk early again today. The temperature felt like around 4°C with a moderate southwesterly breeze of about 14–15 mph; this made it feel cooler than the air temperature, with gusts also present. The actual air temperature was around 7°C, but the “feels like” temperature accounted for the wind chill. Fortunately, the earlier light rain showers had stopped and the air smelt fresh and clean.

Wildlife Observations
Blackbirds: One flew into a bushy shrub near Foxglove Lane; another flew rapidly away near the recreation ground, and a male hopped under a shrub near the cemetery.
Fieldfares: To my surprise and delight, I noticed a large group of blackbird-sized birds feeding on the grass and flying along the cemetery hedge. Google Lens later identified them as Fieldfares.
   Greenfinches: At the cemetery gates, I saw a flock of about 20 small birds. I managed some close-up photographs, and Google Lens identified them as    Greenfinches.
    Rooks: They were loudly and excitedly quarrelling (or perhaps happily communicating) with their harsh, guttural calls.
   Wood Pigeons: One was perched atop a tall shrub. Later, on Cows Lane, I noticed five separate “sentinel” pigeons on five separate rooftops—likely a territorial sign of spring being just around the corner.

Notes & Sightings
I passed my friendly neighbour, a Pitbull Terrier, who was quietly seated on his garden trampoline.
Near the leisure centre, I also passed a man walking a brown spaniel-type dog.
Activity Summary
Distance: 2.0 miles
Time: 43 minutes
Intensity: 23 Google Fit heart points

I discovered an interesting, unusual Fungus, growing in our garden today. I was removing some overgrown African daisies and this amazing looking fungus appeared growing underneath. I removed it and took some photographs and Google Lens later identified it as a Collared Earth Star fungi. As I was gently handling it, it puffed out a mist of reproductive spores.