Daily Nature Log
  The temperature today hovered between 6°C and 8°C, but with fresh 20-25 mph south-westerly winds, it felt significantly colder—dropping to a ‘feels like’ temperature of 4°C or lower.
  I set out along the usual route. Upon reaching the grassy area in Foxy Lane, I photographed a profusion of flowering red dead-nettles. Daisies and dandelions were also in bloom, and prolific alexanders were visible along the banks and borders everywhere.
  The wind was a formidable factor today. As I walked around the outskirts of the recreation ground, the headwind was powerful enough to physically slow my pace. When I reached the entrance to Cemetery Road, I spotted my friendly Pitbull Terrier on the trampoline in his garden. He totally ignored me today; I actually thought he looked a bit sorry for himself.
  As I began to walk the cemetery pathways, at least ten wood pigeons took to the sky. Interestingly, they headed towards the rookery where several rooks were circling the treetops. A blackbird scuttled along the grass and disappeared under a nearby hedge just as I reached the cemetery gates.
  At the leisure centre, I managed to snap a couple of good photographs of a small group of sparrows perched on the hawthorn hedge adjoining the care home.
I have been trying to capture a photo of these elusive little birds for ages!
  Walking by the five-a-side football pitch, I was intrigued by the sound of the wind whistling through the wire fence. It produced a humming tune, reminiscent of the low notes played on a harp or a viola. 
On my way back, I passed a lady walking a brown Cockapoo-type dog near Foxy Lane. Finally, I noticed a sadly unkempt garden on the corner of Cowslip Lane, which was carpeted in a vibrant mixture of wild dead-nettle and sweet violets.
Today I walked for 2.0 miles in 44 minutes
Google Fit awarded me 16 Heart Points.

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

Daily Nature Log: 24 March 2026

Weather and Atmosphere

The temperature ‘felt like’ 5°C to 6°C, despite actual air temperatures being slightly higher, due to light-to-moderate winds from the east-south-east or southwest. Afternoon wind speeds reached 19–24 mph (30–39 km/h), making the effective temperature significantly colder than the ambient temperature of roughly 9°C–14°C.

The Walk

A powerful, gusty wind was blowing when I left the house to begin my daily walk. I decided to walk in the opposite direction today and was amazed at how many blue Grape Hyacinth plants were in flower everywhere. They were growing in many private front gardens and along the grassy banks and borders; it’s obvious that these lovely floral delights spread like wildfire wherever they begin to grow. I also noticed a profusion of different varieties of blue Greater Periwinkle plants in flower under the hedges and on the borders.

Several rooks were feeding on the school playing field when I walked by, as most of the students had left by this time. I passed a lady walking a black Cockapoo-type dog as I made my way along Campion Way. When I reached the end of the road, I could hear the rooks in the cemetery rookery making a lot of noise. It’s amazing how far their loud, harsh calls travel.

Observations & Encounters

I took a short cut through a gap in the hedge in Foxglove Lane into the recreation ground and walked around to the entrance to the cemetery road. When I entered the cemetery, I began to walk along the central pathway, where I photographed a few rooks flying around above the rookery. A couple of wood pigeons flew off in alarm as I turned towards the cemetery entrance.

I noticed several gulls flying around as I approached the leisure centre road. Six jackdaws landed on the recreation centre rooftop and began playfully hopping around the edges. At least ten sparrows were flying around and perched inside the hawthorn hedge adjoining the care home, and a single sparrow flew up towards the leisure centre rooftop.

Finally, I met my friend Jonathan walking Jack, his Border Collie, and stopped to have an interesting chat with him.

Activity Summary

Distance: 2.68 miles

Duration: 1 hour, 0 minutes

Heart Points: 24 Google Fit points

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

The wind chill (feels-like temperature) at Gunton Hall, Suffolk, generally ranged between 6°C and 8°C (43°F – 46°F) during the day, accompanied by moderate easterly or southerly breezes of 10–15 mph. The actual air temperature was around 9°C to 12°C.
I started out on my daily walk towards the lake. A couple of pied wagtails were busy feeding on the grass, bobbing their tiny tails up and down as they hopped along. Many jackdaws and a few magpies were spread out across the grassy field, while several large gulls flew about with their wings outstretched.

Upon arriving at a thickly wooded area, I saw several grey squirrels racing around, dashing up thick tree trunks and burrowing under the leaf litter. The leaves were piled high over dead twigs and branches, affording the squirrels plenty of cover. Several varieties of daffodils were in bloom everywhere, though most were a variety with large, beautiful yellow blossoms.

At the lake, I snapped a photograph of a pair of swans dipping their heads under the surface to feed on aquatic organisms. I stopped to take more photographs of the blue lake and the contrasting yellow daffodils growing across the woodland floor. Many wild primroses were also in flower along the edges of the pathway, with a few yellow lesser celandine flowers growing amongst them, creating a veritable symphony of early springtime yellow.

Several mallard ducks floated by on the water’s surface; I photographed one framed by interesting hazel catkins hanging from a bankside tree. I also captured images of a moorhen floating near the edge and a black-headed gull perched on a rock in the centre of the lake. The swans remained busy feeding among the reeds on what seemed to be an inexhaustible supply of food.

I photographed a majestic stand of oaks alongside the lake and a cheeky little grey squirrel on the pathway, dwarfed by those ancient arboreal giants. Crossing a small bridge at the end of the lake, I paused for a few more photographs of the aquatic life. It was then that I had my first sighting this year of a butterfly feeding on a wild primrose. Sadly, I was unable to get a photograph before it flew away, but it had distinctive, bright yellow wings.
A search on Google confirmed that a yellow butterfly spotted in the UK during March is almost certainly a male Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). They are among the first to emerge from hibernation, often seen on sunny spring days with bright, lemon-yellow, leaf-shaped wings.
I completed my walk by a small pond, photographing a moorhen and a couple of mallards on the weedy surface.
Today, I walked 1.85 miles in 41 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 10 heart points

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

  Dazzling yellow daffodils were everywhere, mostly growing healthily from bulbs planted by the gardening team—a rich investment with years of beauty ahead.    A couple of grey squirrels raced up the trunks of trees as I approached; they are numerous around here, feeding from the large ancient oaks, beech, and chestnut trees growing around the lake. As I neared the water, I noticed a couple of moorhens racing across the grass as fast as possible on their short legs.

  I snapped a couple of nice photographs of a large clump of the beautiful yellow daffodils growing near the lake. A pair of gulls was perched on a floating log in the centre of the lake, while several mallard ducks, both males and females, floated on the surface.

  I took a beautiful photograph of the lake and crossed a small bridge to the far side. A few moorhens were swimming around close to the edge of the lakeside. Two majestic swans were floating on the surface, and I managed to take a couple of good pictures of them.

   Along the bankside, many wild primroses were just coming into flower. Many mallard ducks, mostly males—conspicuous by the almost luminescent green sheen of their feathers—were soaking up the early afternoon sunshine. I captured a couple of beautiful photographs of one of the males before it slid down the bank into the water.

  A grey squirrel raced up a tree trunk as I approached, and several small birds flew into the safety of a thick bramble patch.  

  The wildlife here is prolific; later, I noticed a couple of rabbits scampering around the edges of a large evergreen rhododendron shrub growing at the side of the lake.

Today I walked for 2.72 miles in 58 minutes.

Google Fit awarded me 24 heart points.

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

The actual temperature was around 8°C to 9°C, but it felt like 4°C to 5°C due to a strong, brisk southwest wind of 16–23 mph. This ‘feels like’ temperature encouraged me to put my best foot forward.

  A wood pigeon was perched in a silver birch tree next to the children’s playground.   I began walking around the outskirts of the recreation ground and watched a pair of chaffinches racing along the top of the hedge adjacent to Foxy Lane.

  I was aware of an odd stereophonic avian sound as I walked along. On one hand, there was a chorus of gulls loudly calling and screaming at each other above the abandoned factory rooftops. On the other, I could hear the rooks in the rookery, loudly cawing and complaining to each other.

  My ‘friend’, the Pitbull Terrier, was lying still and curled up on top of the trampoline in his garden. He hardly raised his head when I passed by and simply watched me with half-closed eyes. I made a mental note to look in on him on my way back.

  I entered the cemetery and began to walk along the central pathway. Several wood pigeons flew up in alarm as I walked past, and a single rook flew speedily towards the rookery. The rooks in the rookery were murmuring gently to one another in the throes of breeding behaviour.

  A blackbird was hopping underneath the hedge adjacent to the recreation ground. I left the cemetery and began to walk along the cemetery road. I walked back and looked into the Pitbull’s garden to see him standing on all four legs on the trampoline, looking extremely alert.

 I continued along the cemetery road where I noticed a robin perched on the top of a shrub. A sparrow flew into some brambles growing in the hedgerow; I have a feeling there were a few more in the dense branches.

  I walked past the leisure centre where I met my friend Jonathan walking Jack, his Border Collie. I stopped to chat and Jack started barking furiously at a passing car

 I snapped a nice photo and a short video of a pied wagtail bathing in a large puddle of rainwater near the cricket pavilion.

Today, I walked for 2.19 miles in 47 minutes. Google Fit awarded me 20 heart points.

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

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

Daily Nature Log:

  It was a brisk day for a walk, with the temperature hovering around 13°C. Despite the partly cloudy skies, a moderate to fresh south-westerly breeze made the air feel significantly cooler than the mercury suggested. With wind speeds reaching up to 23 mph and gusts peaking at 29 mph, I felt practically propelled along my customary route by the sheer force of the air.

  As I arrived at the recreation ground, I observed two rooks pecking at the grass, seemingly unbothered by the weather. My ‘friend,’ the Pitbull Terrier, gave his usual bark as I passed, though he was quickly distracted by a plastic sheet that had been blown into the garden.

  Wildlife was active despite the gusts. I spotted a male blackbird darting for cover, and two wood pigeons struggled to maintain their flight path against the fierce wind. As I headed toward the leisure centre, small flocks of jackdaws began their evening transit toward their communal roost.

   The highlight of the morning was the contrast in sound: the pine trees at the corner of the field whispered with a rhythm like the ocean, while further along the cemetery road, the broad leaves of the Holm Oaks produced a much deeper, resonant thrum. Even the metal fences by the five-a-side pitch joined in, singing in the wind like the low strings of a double-bass.

 I finished the 2.22-mile circuit in 47 minutes, earning 23 Google Fit heart points for the effort.

Daily Nature Log

  The sun was shining beautifully for today’s 2.3-mile walk, though the moderate breeze dropped the ‘feels like’ temperature significantly.

  Near the cricket field, a blackbird showed visible annoyance before retreating to a nearby shrub, while a group of twelve rooks foraged on the grass.

   The cemetery was filled with the lovely murmur of rooks from the rookery above.

   A particularly unusual highlight was photographing a single, solitary starling by the cemetery gates—a departure from their usual social groupings.

Today I walked 2.3 miles in 53 minutes, and Google Fit awarded me 25 heart points.

~~~~

Category Details
Temperature 8°C to 12°C (Feels like 4°C to 7°C)

Conditions Sunny with a moderate/fresh ESE or W breeze.

Bird Sightings
12 Rooks (cricket field), Blackbird, Gulls, Wood Pigeons, Rooks (cemetery/rookery), 1 Starling, 5 Feral Pigeons.

Wildlife Notes
Blackbird showed ‘visible annoyance’; unusual sighting of a solitary starling
Distance 2.3 miles
Duration 53 minutes
Activity Points 25 Heart Points

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

Daily Nature Narrative: 8 March 2026

  The air held a sharp, easterly bite today; though the thermometer read between 5°C and 9°C, the 11 mph breeze dropped the ‘feels like’ temperature to a bracing 3°C. Despite the chill, the usual route was full of life. It began with a friendly greeting from a lady and her brown Labrador, and as I turned into a lane, the hidden depths of a shrub erupted with the song of a spirited wren.
    The birds are clearly sensing the shift in seasons. While the playing field was unusually quiet and devoid of avian activity, the rookery was alive with the low murmurs of birds in their treetop retreats.
    In the cemetery, wood pigeons have begun to pair up in earnest, gathering in readiness for the upcoming nesting season. Even the feral pigeons at the leisure centre were caught up in the spirit of the season, with a pair engaged in a gentle courtship display on the rooftop.
    Nature’s timeline is moving quickly; the Alexanders have shot up, their flowers already providing a vital feast for the first insects of spring. After a 1.98-mile trek—and spotting a pair of magpies in a private garden—I finished the 43-minute walk with 27 heart points and a clear sense that spring is truly finding its footing.

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

Daily Nature Log
Conditions.- 10°C – 12°C (Feels like 6°C) Wind Speed – 11-12 mph
Misty rain, turning heavier.

Key Observations
Magpie on Foxy Lane;
Green buds appearing on hedgerows along
cemetery road
30 gulls on recreation ground.

Observation Highlights:
Flora: Tiny green buds on hedgerows; moss-covered older branches.

Avian Activity: Magpie, Wood Pigeons (6), Rooks (Rookery active), Blue tits, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeons, Robin Redbreast.

Today I walked for 1.88 miles in 41 minutes.
Google Fit awarded me 24 Heart Points.

   There were light showers of fine, misty rain today when I started out on my daily walk. The temperature felt like 6°C, with actual temperatures reaching highs of 10°C to 12°C. Wind speeds were around 11–12 mph (approx. 18–19 km/h) with a moderate breeze.
   I decided to complete my daily walk around my usual route today. A magpie flew up into one of the pine trees in Foxy Lane and began hopping around the branches. A wood pigeon was perched on a rooftop, soaking up the extremely light rainfall. I made my way around the outskirts of the recreation ground, where around 30 gulls were spread out feeding on the grass.
  Two blue tits began surfing along the top of the hedge adjacent to Foxy Lane. It is always charming to see them chasing along the top of the hedge, landing for a few minutes, then taking off again. I entered the cemetery and began walking along the pathways; six wood pigeons flew up and away in different directions.
A couple of rooks also took to the air from the ground when I passed by. The rooks above the rookery were casually flying around above the treetops. The rain steadily got heavier, and I raised my umbrella as I left the cemetery. A single patrolling gull flew overhead, gliding high in the sky with its wings outstretched.
  I couldn’t help noticing the tiny green buds on some branches of the hedgerows along the cemetery road. The branches that were coming into growth seemed to be separate from the severely moss-covered branches of the main shrubs. Spring has certainly arrived here; in a few weeks’ time, these shrubs will be covered in a thick, bushy growth of fresh green leaves. I noticed a handsome robin redbreast in a leafless shrub along the way; he will be almost invisible, hidden inside there soon.
  A herring gull was hopping around, feeding on the golf course grass when I walked towards the leisure centre. A couple of feral pigeons were perched on the leisure centre rooftop. A wood pigeon was pecking on the ground near the cricket pavilion, and a gull stopped drinking rainwater from a large puddle and fled with a noisy flapping of wings.
Today I walked for 1.88 miles in 41 minutes.
Google Fit awarded me 24 Heart Points.

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