• Night calls

    Tawny Owls are spending their nights in establishing their winter territories. The lighter calls are presumably the younger among them. At times the shouting match reaches a crescendo as two birds throw their calls at one another, often within the relatively confined space of the garden. We hear hear the scrape of their talons as the land on the ridge tiles. In a semi sleeping state their arguments come and go. The outside night world making small incursions into the house and then drift away.

  • Jupiter

    The evening sky is brightened by a waxing moon. The waxing slow build-up to the full moon of 8th March is accompanied by a shining Jupiter and, for the early evening at least, by Venus which rides low in the southern sky and sets at around eight o’clock. The skies are clear at first but, as we walk round the village mist builds up and what sounds there
    are start to deaden. A contact call from a Tawny Owl, the only creature that announces
    it’s presence and the sweet smell of wood smoke beckons us home.

  • Dawn songs

    This morning a bright waning moon illuminated the period just before dawn. The sky was mostly clear with a few shower laden clouds. Not a remarkable winter morning – except for the lack of frost. But, as i walked along the railway line, it was clear that the conditions had led to some confusion. The dawn birdsong was rare mix. A combination of night and day. A pair of Tawny Owls exchanged phrases; the plaintive hoot from the Town Field Ashes was answered by the “Kewick” of it’s mate. The second bird called from an Ivy covered sapling half a furlong further away towards Buxton. Whilst this duet persisted, the village Robins started their song. At least half a dozen Robins threw their song into the moonlit air, each from its garden stronghold. Splashes of sound with the growing confidence of a expected Spring.

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