A Wild Encounter
   The air held a crisp edge as I set out across a field toward the lakeside path. A rowdy congregation of twenty corvids claimed the grass, oblivious to the delicate wild primroses pushing through the rough weeds beneath them. Along the banks, a carpet of bluebells demanded attention; I couldn’t resist pausing to capture their vibrant hue. On the water, large gulls floated in a state of constant, noisy squabbling. Rabbits were everywhere; their bobtails disappeared into bushes and shrubs along the way.

   The highlight of my walk arrived abruptly: a male muntjac deer, antlers held high, blocked my path. We shared a silent moment before I managed a few photos, and then, with a flash of fur, he vanished into the shrubs. As I pressed on, grey squirrels spiralled up ancient trunks, and blackbirds darted beneath the heavy purple canopy of rhododendrons.

   Near a dense thicket of bulrushes, I found a female swan tucked away on her nest, while her mate, the cob, preened himself in solitary indifference further out. Before heading back, I spotted a moorhen guarding five fluffy chicks in a nearby pond. The finale came at the exit, where I met Margaret just in time to see an Egyptian goose parading two spirited goslings across the path.

Daily Stats
Metric Detail
Temperature 12°C–13°C (54°F–55°F)
Wind Speed 7–9 mph (11–14 km/h)
Distance 3.18 miles
Duration 1 hour 12 minutes
Heart Points 19

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