6th
December, 1999
Fieldfares and redwings
continue to feed along the overgrown hedgerow which grows
alongside the Went Beck. The hawthorns are still loaded
with berries, so there seems to be plenty of available
food to keep the migrants in this area, at the moment,
rather than moving on, as many of them will at some point
in the winter. The mistle thrushes have
maintained their usual, noisy defence of their food
supplies and, as usual, are putting a lot of effort into
trying to chase away the other birds.
A large and rapid
drop in air pressure during the night between the 1st and
2nd of the month was followed by gales and heavy
rain, which removed any remaining leaves from the
hedgerow, leaving only rose hips and haws. A single crab
apple tree, which is normally quite inconspicuous when
not in flower, is now quite easy to spot because the
ground beneath it is littered with fallen apples. Also,
one or two apples have managed to remain on the tree.
After the heavy
winds, the first sleet and snow showers of the winter
arrived on the 3rd. There was not enough snow to cover
the ground but conditions became much colder and a
clearing of the skies on the night between the 4th and
the 5th resulted in the first hard frost.
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