Fieldfares

The Daily Nature Log

  The air carried the faint scent of impending rain as I began my daily nature walk. With the thermometer at 7°C but the wind chill making it feel more like 4°C, I diverted my path away from the sodden playing fields. My new route took me past the leisure centre, where six wood pigeons were stoically perched along the roofline.

  As I moved into Cemetery Road, the first signs of spring were evident in the daffodils emerging along the verges. Upon entering the cemetery, my attention was immediately drawn to a pair of trees play-hosting at least twenty fieldfares. I attempted to capture the scene, but the flock took wing almost instantly, settling in a nearby stand of trees. The hedgerow bordering the recreation ground proved equally lively; it was a hive of movement, home to dunnocks, finches, and restless blue tits. A male blackbird darted through the thicket, while a magpie remained tucked away, a flash of monochrome deep within a bushy shrub.

  The rain began in earnest as I reached Cows Lane. Beneath my umbrella, I passed a couple walking a black Labrador and paused to admire a cluster of yellow aconites. The raindrops beaded beautifully on their petals, lending them a fresh, glistening quality.

  I finished my 2.11-mile circuit in 44 minutes, securing 27 heart points on Google Fit.

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

The Colourful Interloper

  The garden equilibrium was quite unexpectedly shifted today. It began with the arrival of a green woodpecker, whose lime-green mantle and crimson crown provided a startling splash of colour against the winter grass. It settled with purpose, probing the turf for a midday meal.
  However, this guest was far from welcome in the eyes of the establishment. The local blackbird, usually the master of the lawn, watched on with clear chagrin, flitting between the shrubs in a state of high indignation. Even our resident wood pigeon, typically the picture of lethargy, seemed affronted by the newcomer’s boldness. It was a classic piece of garden drama—nature’s beauty met with a very cold reception from the neighbours.

Daily Nature Log
Date: 6 February 2026
Location: Garden (Observed from window)
Conditions: Persistent heavy rain / Overcast

Species Observed Behaviour & Notes

Blue Tits–Active at sunflower seed feeders; “snatch and retreat” tactics to nearby shrubs.
Robin–Highly active on the border; recorded bathing in the bird-bath despite the heavy rain.
Dunnocks–Ground-feeding; plumage provided excellent camouflage against the wet soil.
Blackbirds–Male observed using fat-ball feeders (atypical); female foraging traditionally on the border.
Jackdaws (3)–Dominant behaviour at feeders; using heavy beaks to dislodge suet.
Wood Pigeons (2)–Opportunistic feeding on the ground, clearing debris dropped by jackdaws.
Green Woodpecker–Sighting of the Day. Foraged on the lawn; photographed.

General Observations: The rain did not deter avian activity. Significant adaptability noted in the male blackbird’s feeding habits.

 

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

Daily Nature Log

Date: 5 February 2026

Atmospheric Conditions

  I began my cold, daily, wild nature walk, and it was freezing. 🥶 ❄️ The temperature was around 4°C–5°C, but the “feels like” temperature sat between -2°C and 1°C due to the 21–24 mph winds. Conditions remained mostly cloudy with a strong, persistent breeze.

Observations & Wildlife

  Foxy Lane: Passed a young lady with a black Pug. On the horizon, a flock of approximately 10 feral pigeons was battling the windy sky.

  The Recreation Ground: Spotted a , larger flock of 20 feral pigeons over the factory rooftop colony. Along the outskirts, I noticed a line of fresh molehills beneath the hedge. I found myself thinking how warm those furry little moles must be, tucked away in their underground tunnels, shielded from the biting wind.

  Cemetery Road: The wind created a dramatic sensory experience here. The line of pine trees produced a high-pitched, whistling roar through their thin needles. In contrast, the holm oaks—with their dense, leathery, glossy leaves—added a deeper, thunderous rustle to the chaotic swaying of the branches.

  The Cemetery: Upon my arrival, a male blackbird and a wood pigeon sought cover in the nearby hedges. Above the rookery, twenty rooks rose noisily into the air, calling out to one another.

  Social: Observed a person playing with a black Labrador and a spaniel on the grassy area of Foxy Lane; both dogs were enjoying some time off their leads.

Activity Metrics

Distance: 2.24 miles

Duration: 47 minutes

Google Fit: 29 Heart Points

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

 I started my daily walk at 09:30, a lot earlier than usual as there were showers forecast for most of the day.

The temperature was around 3°C to 5°C, but strong easterly winds of up to 24 mph (39 km/h) made it feel much colder, with temperatures dropping below freezing to approximately -3°C at times.

  I noticed two wood pigeons feeding on the grassy area in Foxy Lane. A little further along the way, a single crow was pecking around on the ground beneath the pine trees. Approximately 30 gulls were feeding on the grass in the recreation ground, and a dunnock flew into the hedgerow adjoining the cemetery.

  The wind picked up and blew with stronger gusts when I entered the cemetery. A carpet of broken twigs had been blown down and covered the roadside verges. As I walked around the cemetery pathways, the strong winds were buffeting the leafless trees and the cold was piercing through my woollen gloves.

  I left the cemetery and began walking along the cemetery road. A male blackbird hopped underneath the hedge adjacent to the allotment site. The wind was tearing into the leaves on the holm oak trees, creating a noisy, wild winter sound.

  A large herring gull was drifting high in the sky on the wind currents over the golf course hill.

  When I reached home at the end of my walk, I enjoyed the heat from a large mug of tea penetrating into my cold hands.

Today I walked for 1.49 miles in 30 minutes.

Google Fit awarded me 24 heart points.

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

  We suffered heavy rain here for most of the afternoon and I was unable to complete my daily active wild walk today.
  However I managed to work in the garden for a while and I took an interesting video during the heavy rain which followed my work.
   A robin was bathing in our bird bath during some heavy rain.

  What is the avian logic behind a robin taking a bath in a birdbath during a downpour? 🌧️🐦
  I put that question to Google, and the reply was fascinating. It turns out that a robin bathing during heavy rain isn’t just being eccentric; it’s a masterclass in hygiene, feather maintenance, and opportunistic efficiency.

  The “Rain Bath” Logic:
Optimal Feather Maintenance: Clean feathers are essential for flight, insulation, and waterproofing. A bath removes excess oil, parasites, and dirt that can cause matting.

  The “Clean Water” Advantage: While rain falls, a birdbath provides a consistent, contained, and relatively clean “splash zone” compared to the muddy puddles forming nearby.

  Water Pressure & Volume: The rain provides a gentle flow of fresh water, while the shallow depth of the bath (1–3 inches) allows the bird to wash without becoming waterlogged.

  The Rinse Cycle: Active bathing saturates the feathers to loosen grime, while the falling rain acts as a natural rinse cycle to wash it all away.

  Parasite Control: The combination of rainwater and vigorous splashing helps dislodge mites and other parasites.

  Pure Enjoyment: Beyond the health benefits, many birds simply find the water refreshing!
In essence, the robin is treating the birdbath as a “clean spa” in the middle of a natural shower. 🛁

  Food for thought: If AI can follow a robin’s thought processes so intimately, are we underestimating avian intelligence—or is AI overestimating it? 🤔

Daily Nature Log
Date: 1 February 2026
Weather: Heavy rain and overcast 🌧️

Observations
Species: European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Activity: Observed a robin vigorously bathing in the garden birdbath despite a steady downpour.

Behavioural Notes: The bird seemed to be using the falling rain as a “rinse cycle.” It remained in the shallow water for several minutes, seemingly unfazed by the wet conditions, focusing on feather saturation and preening.

Reflections & Insights
The AI Perspective: Researching this behaviour via Google Search revealed that birds prefer birdbaths over muddy puddles during rain because the water remains cleaner. It’s a brilliant bit of “opportunistic efficiency.”

Thought of the Day: Is this a display of high avian intelligence, or are we simply using AI to project human-like logic onto natural instincts? Either way, the “spa” analogy fits perfectly.

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