Daily Nature Log Template
Date: 12 February 2026

Weather: 7°C–8°C (felt like 4°C), light rain/drizzle, 11–19 mph winds.

Flora Observations:
Camellia: One bloom near full flower; many healthy buds.
Alexanders: First early flower of the year recorded; dense growth on recreation ground banks.
Docks: Small, strong plants emerging through the Alexander beds.

Fauna Observations:
Herring Gull: Flying low over town centre car park.
Wood Pigeons: One perched on silver birch near an old nest; a pair seen on the cricket pavilion roof.
Feral Pigeons: Flock seen near the leisure centre.
Dogs: Two mini Schnauzers, one dark brown retriever, and Jack (border collie).

Activity Metrics:
Distance: 2.28 miles
Duration: 47 minutes
Google Fit Heart Points: 34 total (8 + 26)

Notes: Photographed the wind-swept pine trees on cemetery road. Extremely muddy conditions near the cricket pavilion.

~~~~~

  I noticed just one camellia bloom almost in full flower on a shrub that was covered in swollen, healthy buds ready to flower profusely quite soon. A single wood pigeon was perched high on a silver birch tree near a nest remaining from last year. I wondered if it was reclaiming this nest to raise another family.

  I photographed the first Alexander plant in an early flower that I noticed this year. Hundreds of strong, young, green plants are growing around the banks of the recreation ground, ready to spring into flower. Alexanders are renowned for growing close to each other, shading surrounding plants and starving them of light. However, pernicious weeds such as docks and nettles seem to have a built-in survival mechanism and grow through regardless when the Alexanders have completed their cycle and begin to die back. Many small, strong dock plants were coming through between the Alexanders, possibly establishing root networks well in advance of the main growing period.

   I walked past the cricket pavilion on an extremely muddy surface, navigating puddles of rainwater unable to soak into the rain-sodden ground. A pair of wood pigeons were seated on the roof of the cricket pavilion.

   I walked along the main road as far as the entrance to the cemetery road and took an interesting photograph of the bent-over pine trees; this photo reveals the power of the strong Norfolk winds. I retraced my steps back towards the leisure centre road where I met my old friend Jonathan walking Jack, his lively, elderly border collie.

  Overall, today I walked for 2.28 miles in 47 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 26 heart points.

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