Red berry lights draped through snow-laden ivy beside the back door with a view down the snowy garden towards tall trees in the churchyard with the spire just visible in the snow shower

A close up of red berry lights aglow in snow laden ivy

As my preference is to observe the twelve days of Christmas, I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at my outside lights in the fresh snow 🌨️

NB- please replace fresh water throughout the day for the birds & beasties 💚

St Andrews, Mutford. The old porch an excellent place for a sit down and a cuppa mid-walk

Winter bird mix in flower next to Mutford Big Wood in late afternoon sun

Looking back towards St Andrews Mutford from the Big Wood.

A bracing & peaceful walk from Carlton Colville to Mutford & back today saw 37sp inc a mixed & widespread flock of lapwing & golden plover on winter stubble, yellowhammer & reed bunting feeding in the game cover/winter bird mix & GSW drumming/Stock dove singing at Mutford Big Wood out of the wind!

St Andrews, Mutford. The old porch an excellent place for a sit down and a cuppa mid-walk

Winter bird mix in flower next to Mutford Big Wood in late afternoon sun

Looking back towards St Andrews Mutford from the Big Wood.

A bracing & peaceful walk from Carlton Colville to Mutford & back today saw 37sp inc a mixed & widespread flock of lapwing & golden plover on winter stubble, yellowhammer & reed bunting feeding in the game cover/winter bird mix & GSW drumming/Stock dove singing at Mutford Big Wood out of the wind!

Yes there's a couple of east Suffolk Flixtons. This one is a very small hamlet between Lowestoft & Somerleyton.
Have a Merry Christmas 🎄

The piece of stone is clearly worked as it has two cut edges. It is in good condition so hasn't travelled far. This type of stone is only used in grand/old buildings round these parts. The field is very rural with known medieval ruins nearby, so it is an assumption, but a very likely one

The mound of ivy covering the ruins of Flixton St Andrew in glorious dark-o-vision

A hidden arch peeping through the ivy

A piece of worked sandstone found two fields across from the church ruins. Lots of flint about there too

The drain that runs from Flixton Decoy to Park Hill. Teal flushed here and siskins in the alders

A wintry walk round the footpaths at Flixton visiting the ruins of St Andrew (blink and you'll miss it!) abandoned in the C18th. Found a bit of medieval masonry two fields along- maybe from the church. 33 bird sp inc 3 pink feet over, common, med & bh-gulls, skylark, mipit etc feeding w/sheep

Remember: There is nothing natural or inevitable about extreme inequality; it’s the result of an economic system that values wealth and power over human dignity and justice.

It doesn't have to be this way.

A Chinese water deer buck & two hinds in the river Dove valley, West Suffolk (you'll have to zoom in!)
Not sure what the orb is bottom right though...

Lunch break between farmland winter surveys in deepest West Suffolk spent watching a grey wagtail feeding around a slurry pool. Robin, wren, chaffinch, dunnock and pheasant as supporting cast with red kite patrolling overhead. Bog standard phone pic attached 🤪

‘I was contaminated’: study reveals how hard it is to avoid pesticide exposure Silicone wristbands worn by volunteers in the Netherlands captured 173 substances in one week

‘I was contaminated’: study reveals how hard it is to avoid pesticide exposure | Pesticides | The Guardian share.google/dzDAWywf7HGV...

Petition: Reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels We think each year, individuals suffer because of loud fireworks. We believe horses, dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife can be terrified by noisy fireworks and many people find them intolerable.

You can still have your fireworks night but with some considerations. Please sign this petition for the sake of both animals and humans.

Reduce the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels - Petitions share.google/QTJ4jVRdXs6O...

I have, from today, seen as many East Anglian brown shrikes as East Anglian red-backed shrikes. Bonkers!

Hand-held phone-scoped lesser grey shrike

Delighted to catch up with the lesser grey shrike at Winterton this morning. Followed by a fun session at Breydon water (north side) picking out the curlew sandpipers amongst the throng of waders on the rising tide. Happy to also see 2 spoonbill & 3 peregrine over together.

The south face of St Margaret's church, Lowestoft with the massive brass spire, framed through the boughs of a tree

Looking down the aisle to the east window and alter. Vast ceilings, whitewashed walls and dark peas

An interpretation map of Lowestoft around the church with annotations about what was here in the past. The original footprint of the Saxon church is placed within the current footprint

A rare surviving brass plaque on a floor slab grave. Presumably mediaeval (C14th?) surviving the iconoclastic actions of the Reformation

Having gazed on the north face of this church for most of my life, last stepping inside over 35 years ago, I thought it was time to revisit the inside as part of the Heritage Open Day. It's just as I remembered, vast and Victorianized. Some interesting maps on the board and a rare brass survivor

So many Swallows gathering locally on the telephone wires I’ve taken the opportunity to sculpt another one. #swallow #wiresculpture #birdartist #birdart #wireartist

Post a female character you love

Britain's economy thrived after the withdrawal of the Roman Empire An archaeological dig in northern England shows iron and lead processing continued and even increased after the departure of the Romans

www.newscientist.com/article/2495... this is an interesting read. I've always thought that the Dark Ages were oversimplified & glossed over. Lets face it, people are people, & we are hugely resilient. The loss of the Roman administration would have opened up new avenues of endeavour, surely...

It's almost impossible to pick a #FavouritePlant for #WildflowerHour but I've plumped for this photo of Sea Holly at sunset on Kessingland beach in the second week of August. Also a cherished memory from a well-loved place

Didn't get the memo about #SeedHeads so here's some pavement Shaggy Soldier and some climbing coastal Hops from Lowestoft town today. The scent from a crushed hop was incredible- gentle citrus & floral notes sent us scurrying to our local brewery pub for an honest real ale! Cheers 🍻 #WildflowerHour

"That's me, that is."

Birding from my bed this morning while recovering from a nasty virus. So far there has been pied flycatcher & willow warbler seen in the birch trees. Sparrowhawk and jay in the limes

Used a grey day to take the girls to the newly opened keep at Norwich Castle. Views from the battlements were fantastic & sure to be better on a bright day. Looking SW to the cathedral in the first pic and down the alley to the historic market place in the second. Inside the keep in the third

Single use bird bags for bird ringing for the highest welfare standards. Each turned inside out & shaken to remove debris before being soaked, washed, dried, turned back the right way and checked for robustness and strings knotted.
Any volunteers for this twice weekly job? Or is it just me...

Rod Hull, born on this day 90 years ago. Thanks for all the fun!

First beach visit of the holiday: my step-grandaughter standing with her feet in the sea on an evening beach with a grey sky, a grey sea and grey sand. Photo is unfiltered

A solo ringing table with recording books, pots, rings, pliers and all general equipment required set against a backdrop of green scrub. As a ringing trainer I almost never get to ring on my own. It made a refreshing change!

A slurped pint of cask ale with a famous lockside pub in the background

Stepdaughter and granddaughter heading down to the sea on the final evening of a wonderful week by the coast. They are walking down a sandy path with maram grass on either side. The sky is pink and grey

Took a week off to spend time with my girls. Endless beach visits, solo ringing, bit of market town shopping, the odd pint and loads of lovely food. Also got to sneak in a life tick with the zitting cisticola before splashing about in the sea at Walberswick. Bliss 🤍

This morning I swam in the rain while six beautiful fledged Kittiwake juveniles bathed just feet away and several more circled overhead. What a beautiful thing to have experienced. I feel honoured 🤍🖤🤍🖤

Delighted to find this elephant hawkmoth caterpillar and two more devouring various willowherbs around the garden yesterday. Seems to prefer the smaller varieties, I haven't found a single one on our greater willowherb although that seems to be floundering without flowers this year

Despite the blueness of this week's harebell challenge, it was yellow that commanded my attention.
A cluster of brazenly bright tansy beside the marsh track at Minsmere & a beautiful bunch of butter and eggs (common toadflax) on waste ground beside the harbour mouth at Lowestoft #WildflowerHour

And they have fledged.
First photo was last Saturday morning, where their wings were slightly longer than their tail feathers so c35 days old. Second photo was the nest site this afternoon. Maybe they are one of the birds in the final photo, contemplating life as a new and independent Kittiwake...

You have to admire their determination though. Here's two well grown Kittiwake chicks on an old ventilation shaft behind a redundant café as well as four well grown chicks (from two broods) on a lamppost by the bascule bridge. Kittiwake skills!