FROSTY STARLINGS, SOME OTHER BIRDS AND A LYNX

I rarely remember to take my camera into town but on a particularly frosty morning, I did. We haven't had Starlings up on our bit of the moor at all this year, so I was delighted to see this tiny murmuration up on the frosty TV aerial of a 1980's house. 

Their markings remind me a tiny bit of those on the Golden Plovers who, incidentally, appeared again on Wednesday after an absence of at least a month:

After many years, I have a tame Robin, who will get within six inches of me. No feeding from the hand yet but it follows me around, especially when I'm preparing Trigger's food. I took this during the RSPB Garden Bird Survey last weekend:

Some of the Chaffinches are getting pretty close at feeding time too. They're SO hungry at this time of year I suppose. 

Just before Christmas, we went to visit M's dad in Paignton and got some fish and chips in Brixham. We were inundated with greedy Turnstones rather than Gulls and I took this on my phone. I'm terrible about downloading pictures from it and have meant to put this in for ages. Not great quality I'm afraid but better than the Goshawk I took last week which was unpublishable! 

This is a very beautiful thing flying. You might not agree but I absolutely love them and we are blessed with a variety of different ones thundering over....often on a Tuesday I find. This Lynx was weaving all over the place. Look at the heat haze on it....gorgeous. 

Trigger went down to see his ladies this week before the snow started and I managed to get a good sequence of him going into a roll:

We haven't had as many glorious sunrises and, of course, it's getting light earlier and earlier. By next week I may be too late at 7.30am. This was a good frosty one though; same day as the Starlings:

I've had two commissions to do since I last posted. One of Poppy for CT at http://countrysidetales.blogspot.co.uk/ and one, which I started today, of Thelma's dog Moss ( http://northstoke.blogspot.co.uk/ ), which has a cautionary tale attached to it. I drew Moss before Christmas and decided to leave sending it for safety's sake until the festive post frenzy was over. I gave it to M to post in the new year, but forgot to ask him to get proof of postage. I also forgot to scan it so couldn't even send Thelma a print when, after a couple of weeks, we decided it was lost. Over four hours work down the drain. CT's has gone recorded delivery! Moss will be done but it's very strange doing him again. 

Right, time for other stuff. The January bits and pieces post is going to be a big one so I'd better start editing now. So until next time, here's Snippet at Dawn. Have a lovely weekend everyone. It's supposed to start snowing heavily here at 3.00am. Hoorah!

TRIGGER GOES ON HOLIDAY AND A REDWING

Today Trigger started his month's holiday down the road. I walked him there, took off his halter and let him go. I haven't seen him move so fast for a VERY long time! It's rare to see the Arab in him, but, like this, it's really obvious. Banner tail, nostrils flared, he looks fabulous. When I took his rug off earlier this morning, he looked awful to be honest. Coat flattened and the rug induced bald shoulder patches.....you wouldn't have known it was the same pony. His new companions ran for the hills in fear as he careered around like a mad thing. When I went back this evening, I found the very kind people who live next to the field feeding him carrot and giving him a cuddle. I think he's going to be fine, even if the mares don't take to him!

When I looked out of the window at 6.45 this morning, I was horrified to see it was snowing again! It lasted for about half an hour with proper big flakes and settled on the grass for a couple of hours.

When I took Snippet out at 8.00-ish, it was cold and foggy but as I walked, the sky began to clear in the distance and lit up the hills in a most beautiful way.

Foggy, snowy sheep

Fog into the distance

The sky begins to clear

As I stood in Trigger's field (the old one) a few minutes later, the skies had cleared almost completely and the snow dusted hills looked stunning.

In the field beyond, the fieldfare flock was enormous and I managed to snap a few of them:

And these starlings:

When I downloaded the pictures later today, I discovered that one of the Fieldfare I'd shot was in fact a Redwing! Very excited and I can see another one in the background.

When I left Trigger he seemed pretty calm and happy so I feel like I've done the right thing. He'd managed to put a huge rip in his rug but never mind. Still no sign of the companions....they may come round but if he continues to chase them around like he was, he may be out of luck. Until next time, I'll leave you with our resident pony who I think I should name if she's staying. Daisy will do her very well.