The sap is rising

Winter is, of course, a wonderful time of year for seeing the shapes of trees. As we get past the solstice, the bare branches seem to take on a coloured sheen. The trees in Lime Tree Avenue acquire a ruby glow while the tall birch trees in the garden take on a rather regal purple. Look closer and you will see fat buds and tightly packed catkins packed with the promise of spring.

Lime tree bud - like a ruby amongst the dark branches.

In the garden, winter jasmine, witch hazel, snowdrops and primroses are giving us much needed colour. We do seem to have some unseasonal activity. The big bumble bee we found in the conservatory the other day seemed rather confused and the stray flower buds on the hydrangeas are just wrong.

Although the days are lengthening, we can expect more cold weather. As the anticipataed cold snap approaches we are seeing more of the birds that visit our garden. Within a few minutes I saw about half a dozen blue tits, a blackbird and a song thrush near our bird table.

Blue tit - one of a small flock we see regularly in the garden.

If it does snow or freeze, we will keep putting food out for the birds and, perhaps more importantly, water too.

This train of thought was fired up by Judith Christian-Carter's Facebook Post and associated comments. .

The whole fox

Finally, after getting a head and a tail, the trail camera bags me the whole fox.  The following sequence comprises four images taken over about 20 seconds.

Fox investigating Oak Shades at about 10pm on a January evening. 

We have been hearing odd, almost metallic sounding barks.  A post from WRAS tells us

"The Foxes do bark and call at this time of year when vixens are on heat, as they search for each other, studies have shown vixen try to advertise that they are on heat and try to mate with numerous foxes rather than just one. The noise is short term and stops fairly quickly."

Seeing in the new year - with a fox.

My name is Wendy and I am using this blog to make notes about the wildlife I and others encounter near my home in Uckfield, Sussex in England.

The new year starts with one of my more embarrassing wildlife encounters. I frightened a fox. I didn't mean to. It just happened.  It was just after midnight on New Year's day and I was standing on the front path washing down others' celebration fireworks with a glass of champagne. Fireworks were going off left, right and centre. All sorts of sounds, shapes and colours.  In the odd pauses, I could hear the church bells ringing in the new year. Then a fox sauntered round the hedge, apparently unfazed by the noise and activity. Until he saw me. Then he fled across the garden and into the holly bush as if the hounds of hell were chasing him. The sight of me in my nightwear has that affect on people.

Later in the day - and somewhat more suitably dressed, I spent some time tidying the garden.  There is a fine line between a wildlife-friendly garden and chaos. Right now, ours is perilously close to that line.  I left the seedheads for the birds but cleared old stalks and debris. As a reward I found some early primroses. The name translates as "first flower", which is rather apt for this new year treat.