Following the snowdrops and daffodils of early spring, late April sees our garden transformed into a sea of blue. Forget-me-nots appear everywhere, flashing thousands of tiny petals in the most unlikely places; these delicate flowers always bring to mind the people who have touched our lives over the years.
Joining them are the Camassia—striking blue spikes often known by the affectionate, historic name ‘Indian Lilies.’ Meanwhile, bluebells have claimed the shady corners, spreading into lush clusters beneath the showy garden shrubs. To complete the scene, we introduced fresh Petunias and Verbenas, from the local garden centre.
This brief ‘blue period’ is a beautiful herald of the roses and late-summer blooms soon to arrive. 🌿✨
The Daily Nature Log: The Narrative The air held a 9°C chill that felt more like 6°C under the persistent 13 mph northeast wind, a temperature expected to hover in the low single digits for the remainder of the day. I shared a familiar nod with a man and his small white pug; our passing relationship is becoming a reliable fixture of these walks. Turning into Foxy Lane, I encountered a black Labrador before heading toward the recreation ground, where a solitary rook was busy foraging in the grass.
The local pitbull terrier was found in a rare moment of repose, lounging sleepily in his garden as I approached the cemetery gates.
Rooks flying above the rookery
Inside, the rookery was a hive of activity, and the resident partridges—now firmly established as “regulars” in my book—scurried about on their tiny legs.
I captured another photograph of the flowering cherry tree, watching as it steadily loses its blossom to the season. On the return leg, the pitbull’s sleepiness had vanished; I could hear him barking from behind the fence, though I was well out of his sight. Further on, a lady was dutifully tending to her Cockapoo’s “unmentionables.” Finally, at the leisure centre, ten feral pigeons kept watch from the roof tiles while a cross-bred retriever sat with admirable patience in the skateboard park, waiting on his owner’s signal.
The Stats Distance: 2.6 miles Duration: 58 minutes Intensity: 22 Google Fit Heart Points
The Narrative The air had a bit of a bite today; 9°C feels a lot more like 6°C when a north wind is whispering through your layers.
Sparrows
It was one of those teasing spring days where the sun promises warmth, but the shade quickly reminds you who’s in charge. The local birdlife was out in force, from the opportunistic rooks on the rec to a rather dramatic standoff between a magpie and a wood pigeon in the pines.
Partridge
Even the local Pitbull was too preoccupied with a mystery interloper to pay me any mind. The highlight, however, was the ephemeral blossom on the cherry and crab apple trees—a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that definitely deserved the shutter space.
Ephemeral blossom
The Stats Distance: 1.83 miles Duration: 38 minutes Conditions: 9°C (felt like 6°C), Partly Sunny, 78% Humidity Wind: 9 mph (North) Intensity: 20 Google Fit Heart Points Key Sightings: Rooks, Magpies, Wood Pigeons, Blackbird, Partridges, Dunnock, Sparrows, and Feral Pigeons
The temperature was 15°C, but it felt like 13°C due to a southwest wind of 13 mph. The conditions were mostly cloudy, and the wind remained consistent at around 10–13 mph into the evening, causing the “feels like” temperature to dip to 10°C–12°C.
⛳ Golf course
Margaret dropped me off at the golf club gates, and I began to walk around the outskirts of the golf course. Several feral pigeons were lined up on the rooftop of the house where the owners consistently feed the birds. A couple passed me walking a Cockapoo-type dog, followed by a lady walking a Spaniel-type dog. Several jackdaws were flying around the links, settling and feeding before taking off again.
Then I spotted what was probably my best sighting of the day: an Orange-tip butterfly settled on some wild plants in front of me. Sadly, the wind was blowing quite strongly, and I only managed to take a partial photograph. I also took a couple of nice photographs of wildflowers growing alongside the path as I continued on my way. Pink sorrel and a clump of three-cornered leeks were pushing through the long grass, in spite of the competition.
My next interesting encounter was with a man and a huge dog that he said was a Caucasian Shepherd from Romania. Sadly, the dog had an injury that caused him to walk with a pronounced limp; the owner mentioned the dog was on painkillers and under treatment from the local vet. Unfortunately, nature took its course while we were chatting, and I left the owner with a plastic bag in hand to deal with a pile of natural droppings.
🐞🐞 Ladybirds on Alexander plants
I arrived at the clifftop pathway and looked out to sea over the cliffs; an offshore supply vessel was on the horizon. A couple walked by with two vastly different-sized dogs—one was a large Irish Wolfhound and the other was a spaniel-type crossbreed.
I then began to walk along the top of the clifftop path up to the coastwatch station. Along the way, I had to run the gauntlet of about a million black March flies that were feeding on the nectar produced by the Alexanders plants, along with a large number of ladybirds. I have never seen so many flies flying around at the same time! I took a couple of photographs with difficulty, and Google Lens later identified them as March flies.
I took some nice photographs of the precipice-like cliffs on the way to the top and some wonderful shots of the view from the coastwatch station. On my way back to the golf club, I took an interesting photograph of a bank of green alkanet. I passed a man walking an impressive, large white poodle with an undocked tail, showing off a well-trimmed coat. I also took a photograph of some purple honesty flowers growing underneath the bushy branches of some damson trees alongside a private garden.
A lady walking a mongrel-type dog passed me along the road to the leisure centre as I made my way to meet up with Margaret.
Today I walked for 3.12 miles in 1 hour and 9 minutes.
The day was just beautiful: gorgeous sunshine with a temperature of 11°C, though a 17 mph southeasterly wind made it feel like 7°C. As I began my walk, a man with a chocolate-coloured Labrador and a Golden Retriever passed by on the opposite side of the road.
Upon arriving at the recreation ground, I was almost overcome by the powerful scent of the Alexander flowers growing along the banks. Two wood pigeons were feeding on the grass, seemingly unbothered by the youngsters playing football nearby. My ‘friend’ the Pitbull stood still, watching me as I walked by; he eventually ignored me, however, and settled into a prone position to lie in the sunshine.
When I entered the cemetery, two partridges retreated rapidly, scurrying away on their tiny legs. It really is amazing to see the speed they can reach so quickly. Two or three wood pigeons were feeding on the grass while a few rooks circled the treetops; one group of four rooks was flying together at quite a pace. As I left the cemetery, a pair of blue tits darted into a nearby hedge.
The Pitbull was barking loudly as I walked back past. I’m not sure what he was barking at, as I was already out of sight. While I waited at the crossroads near the care home entrance, a car pulled up with the head of a yellow Labrador sticking out of the window.
When I reached the leisure centre, two rooks and two feral pigeons were perched on the rooftop. I watched as one of the rooks chased the two pigeons away. Finally, I spotted a lady and a young girl walking an impressive, large standard Poodle with a long, curved tail.
The powerful wind was a real factor during my daily walk. When I set off, the temperature was 10°C (50°F), but it felt like 6°C (43°F) due to the strong west winds at 21 mph. The weather was mostly sunny, with the temperatures dropping to a forecast 7°C (45°F).
I passed a man walking a spaniel-type dog; it was such a windy day that I hadn’t expected to see many people out and about at all. I was wrong: when I began to walk around the outskirts of the recreation ground, some youngsters were actually kicking a ball around, albeit with limited success. A flock of feral pigeons was flying around on the factory rooftops in the near distance.
A gull looked beautiful as it glided across the windy sky with its wings outstretched, just floating along. Two rooks raced across at high speed, their powerful beaks leading the way. Wood pigeons were also speeding across the sky at a much faster pace than usual.
A robin flew fast to a hedge and perched motionless for a few seconds before taking off again. Several wood pigeons were settled, feeding on the grass. There were quite a few rooks above the rookery, coming and going. Then, a single magpie flew by really fast—a streamlined, powerful avian jet.
I made my way along the cemetery road, where the gusty wind powering against the leaves on the holm oak trees sounded like the waves of a windswept sea crashing into the seashore. A pair of wood pigeons were perched on the leisure centre rooftop in the throes of courtship. Eight gulls were gliding and flying around in the breezy conditions, making their loud, screeching calls to one another.
When I passed the high wire fence around the five-a-side football pitch, the wind resounded through the wire with a low tone, much like the deep musical notes of a cello.
The temperature was 7°C, but it felt like 5°C due to a 7 mph northerly wind. Conditions were mostly sunny, with wind speeds causing it to feel closer to 3–4°C.
The Narrative
My walk today was an unusual urban return home from the hairdressers. I started out in the town centre, where I passed quite a few dog owners walking a variety of breeds. I noticed a Schnauzer, a Spaniel, a couple of Cockapoo-type dogs, and a small dog that resembled a Pug.
I walked across the central car park to Wey Road, where I photographed a shrub with buds on the point of bursting open into flower. Google Lens later identified this as a Cotoneaster. I also photographed some wild primroses growing through a moss-covered bank.
As I continued towards the leisure centre, a couple of gulls flew overhead toward the golf course.
A young couple passed me walking a lively, dark brown spaniel with typical long, soft ears. I noticed a lot of blue Greater Periwinkle plants growing along the borders; one was quite a large plant, almost a shrub.
An interesting event for me was seeing an elderly lady in walking shoes leave the golf course gates and cross the road in front of me. When she reached the veterinary surgery, she bent down to admire a wallflower plant full of yellow blooms, pausing to sniff the perfume. The next time I saw her, she was removing a large, empty plastic sack that had obviously blown from somewhere. I guess she is a kindred spirit—a fellow nature lover looking after the environment.
I noticed a flock of feral pigeons flying speedily over the abandoned factory rooftop they use as a colony. A pair of gulls were perched on the leisure centre rooftop as I passed. Finally, I photographed some tiny blue Speedwell flowers growing alongside a large patch of dead-nettles on a grassy bank next to the recreation ground.
Today, I walked 2.29 miles in 51 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 21 heart points.
The thermometer claimed it was 9°C, but the Southwest wind had other ideas. With 25-mph gusts whipping across the landscape, the “feels like” temperature plummeted to a staggering 1°C. It was the kind of afternoon where the air doesn’t just brush past you; it tries to move you.
At the children’s playground on the corner of Foxy Lane, I encountered a man with a rather stylish duo: a sleek Whippet and a medium-sized, chocolate-coloured dog that immediately caught my eye. Upon enquiry, the owner confirmed it was a German Shorthaired Pointer. A handsome creature, indeed. I left them to their walk and followed the song of a blackbird tucked deep within a shrub, its melody temporarily defying the gale.
The outskirts of the cemetery proved to be a hub of avian drama. I disturbed several wood pigeons, including a pair caught mid-flirtation; the male was busy fanning out his tail feathers and posing with great affectation before my arrival sent the whole lot skyward. In the midst of the flutter, I caught the tell-tale swooping flight of a Green Woodpecker in “fearful escape mode,” a streak of colour making a panicked exit.
The highlight of the trek, however, was the “music” of the pines. The wind hit the line of trees adjacent to the allotment site with such power that it mimicked the rhythmic rasp of a wire brush being dragged across the taut skin of a big bass drum. It was a haunting, percussive soundtrack to the afternoon.
Near the cemetery road, I hit the jackpot: my “Sighting of the Day.” A pair of birds were hunkered down in the grass on the corner of the allotments. My hunch—later confirmed by the digital eye of Google Lens—was correct: Red-legged Partridges. The male was exceptionally well-marked and looked absolutely splendid despite the weather.
I finished the loop past the leisure centre, noting a man with a brown and white Cocker Spaniel and four feral pigeons lined up like sentries on the roof.
The Final Tally:
Distance: 1.9 miles
Time: 39 minutes
Effort: 21 Heart Points earned in the face of a gale.
The temperature felt significantly colder than the actual air temperature due to strong winds; while the mercury sat between 11°C and 13°C, the wind chill made it feel more like 6°C to 9°C. Light rain showers and gusts of up to 28 mph added to the bracing chill.
Observations
Recreation Ground: I began my walk around the recreation ground, where I noticed a pair of rooks feeding on the grass; they rapidly flew away as I approached. Later, I spotted a single large white gull feeding in the same area.
Cemetery Road: Upon reaching the top corner entrance, I saw ‘my friend,’the Pitbull Terrier, bounding around his small garden and barking. The space was littered with chewed-up items, including a car tyre and other adapted jaw-strengthening toys.
Cemetery & Hedgerows: Entering the cemetery prompted a wood pigeon to take flight and land on a nearby hedge. In the rookery, the birds made contented sounds to one another while several circled the treetops. As I left, an unseen robin was tweeting from deep within the hedgerow.
Flora: Sadly, I noticed that the numerous daffodils along the cemetery road, which have been delighting the senses lately, are now seriously on the wane.
Leisure Centre: I spotted three feral pigeons perched on the leisure centre rooftop.
Canine Encounters: A yellow Labrador suddenly bounded towards me, tail wagging wildly as it begged for strokes and pats. The owner, a smiling young lady, apologised profusely; I grinned back and happily petted the dog. Near the end of my walk, I passed a lady walking a black greyhound.
Atmospherics & Conditions The actual air temperature hovered between 7°C and 10°C, though a north-easterly moderate to fresh breeze (15–24 mph) dragged the apparent temperature down to a nippier 6°C. The walk began in bright, deceptive sunshine that carried a distinct chill.
Observations from the Field Foxy Lane: An invisible blackbird was performing a solo somewhere within the pine trees. The Playground: A standoff between two wood pigeons; one held the high ground in a silver birch, the other monitored from a wire fence. The Recreation Ground: Rooks were busy foraging near the cricket nets. The Garden: My ‘friend’ the pitbull terrier looked profoundly bored. Despite his fixed stare, his ears were alert to every local rustle. It’s a bit of a tragedy, really—a solitary life in a small garden, likely punctuated only by a brief lead-walk. His deep, aggressive bark followed me into the cemetery. The Cemetery & Leisure Centre: Wood pigeons were in flight over the playing field, while the rookery was a hive of activity. On the leisure centre roof, a line-up of two gulls and three wood pigeons were spotted; the pigeons were busy canoodling, presumably prep-work for the spring breeding season. Botanical Mystery: The trees are currently flaunting strong, beautiful buds, but they remain anonymous for now. Google Lens, offered a buffet of conflicting identities to my photograph. The Finish Line The walk concluded with a final trio of gulls (a pair and a loner) surveying the scene from a rooftop.
Activity Summary Today I walked for 2.99 miles in 1 hour, 7 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 23 Heart Points
johnandmargaret1607 