Chilly at Church Preen

3C – a cold afternoon (and that’s celsius, of course. 3F would have been seriously icy!). At least there’s no wind. Walking keeps us warm, though gloved fingers are suffering slightly by the time we’re back to the car. There’s a thin cover of snow on the Wenlock Edge, and patches here and there on the high ground around Church Preen – but there’s none down by the school.

A red kite takes off from a nearby tree, and drifts slowly away from us. Photo? No chance. In the hedge near Parkstyle – is that a wren? No, too colourful. We think it’s a goldcrest, though it still seems too colourful. Could it be a firecrest? Photo? Again, no chance! Too far away for a clear view, and he’s hopping around in the bare hedge, never still for a second. The dunnock is the mud was much easier but far less colourful (and too far away for a really good photo)…