The sun was out, but that 19 mph easterly wind had enough bite to turn a mild 14°C into a brisk 12°C. I stuck to the usual route, spotting a wood pigeon darting across the road before pausing to capture the red-blossom hawthorn nestled under the pines on Foxy Lane.

   A male blackbird provided the soundtrack near the play area, while the local rooks and a solitary magpie claimed the recreation ground. Even the neighbourhood’s “friendly” Pitbull was taking it easy, dozing in a sun-drenched corner. In the cemetery, the cherry blossoms were putting on their final show, carpeting the ground in a cycle of growth and decay. The highlight, however, was a muntjac deer grazing 100 yards off. I managed a few shots before it vanished behind a shed, only for it to reappear and trot toward the far fence as I headed for the gates—a charming sight, even if their taste for memorial flowers makes them a bit of a local nuisance. After a quick snap of some pink sorrel in the hedgerow, I passed the leisure centre where five feral pigeons were holding their regular rooftop meeting.

Daily Nature Log

Metric Details

Weather 14°C (Feels like 12°C), Sunny, 19 mph East wind

Distance 1.62 miles

Duration 33 minutes

Intensity 23 Heart Points

Flora

Red-blossom Hawthorn, Flowering Cherry, Pink Sorrel

Fauna

Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Rooks (approx. 6+), Magpie, Pitbull Terrier, Muntjac Deer, Feral Pigeons (5)

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