Daily Nature Log —
   A fresh route around the lake today brought a congregation of waterfowl—four Egyptian geese strolling along, and the entire swan family lounging en masse by the water’s edge. Mid-air, a pair of dragonflies zipped past in tandem, while gulls and corvids actively probed the turf.

    Under the canopy of ancient oaks, sycamores, chestnuts, and plane trees, squirrels darted for cover across the path, and a startled crow launched upward into the boughs.

   Striking out past the hotel perimeter, I followed a narrow public footpath wedged between two commercial properties, where drifts of crisp, last year’s leaf litter still lined the track—clearly an unresolved maintenance debate between landowners and the local council. Overhanging branches held thick, green summer foliage just beginning to turn brown for autumn, fringed below by scattered yellow ragwort.

    At the main road, a smallholding pony posed in a full face mask (a handy fly and UV shield, as a quick check confirmed). Rounding off the loop back through the grounds, the small duck pond stood dry-rimmed and empty—a quiet casualty of the recent dry spell, with no sign of last year’s resident moorhens.

Stats
Distance: 2.72 miles
Duration: 1 hour 1 min
Heart Points: 31 (Google Fit)

~~~~~

A poem describing my daily walk today.

Beside the lake where quiet waters lie,
The swans rest still, the dragonflies dart high.
Through aged trees and fading summer green,
A masked horse waits, observing all the scene.
The duck pond dries beneath a sunlit crown,
As autumn whispers, turning green to brown.

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