Barren times

It's been a hard week so far.  The weather started out wettish and has gradually turned colder.  There was a Fiat Uno in the ditch by the fen this morning, abandoned in a slow motion nose dive but irretrievably stuck hard.  I can sympathise.

Legs still ache from Friday evening, so the prospect of walking is not an enticing one.  It's also been cold, wet, snowy and really devoid of anything out of the ordinary on the wildlife front.  I know I must rejoice in nature in all its forms, but just a few moments with something that isn't a rook or crow, a blue tit or a great tit, or even the maniacal scraping cackle of the jays, just something to make you get a perspective on it. But so far nothing apart from the briefiest of views of the rear end of a kingfisher (I think, anyway), a grey heron lifting off from the river bank, and the fact that I can now positively id the call of a willow tit.  Or maybe it's a marsh tit. I don't know.

Even the hares aren't playing ball.  I went out at lunch on the way back from Harleston and found a field of 7 or 8, all hunkered down, none of them looking like they had the slightest inclination to move let alone box.

However there've been two significant developments this week.  Firstly (and thanks to Jenny Holmes for posting this link on Facebook) there was an article in The Times from Simon Barnes, one of my heroes, about Suffolk.  I read it and sent a text to Kee: "we've got to move house to the countryside".  Wow, how to put down a sentiment in words that chimes so clearly with me.  I hope this works but all being well there's a link to it here:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/simon_barnes/article7007729.ece

So the second thing is that we've decided to move house. Scary.  The house goes on the market next week.  Even writing this I feel unsure about whether we're doing the right thing, but if we don't get on with it we'll never move to our forever house.  I suppose it's because there's no need to change, only an aspiration, so it's us taking the initiative.  But then that's what 2010 has been all about so far - changing habits.  Walking, eating, drinking, writing, photographing, dare I say saving money as well.  So why not make a big change as well?

I spoke to Charlie about moving house.  He's OK with it as long as he can bring his bed and his toy monster truck.  Bless.

So looking for hares at lunch I ended up where I'd seen a buzzard the other week, and sure enough there was a pair circling over the wood.  I pulled over, wound down the window, grabbed the camera and bean bag and lined up one of the pair that was flapping towards me.  Superb, light lovely, coming in close, crane neck to see it, lift camera to eye and (blow what a dashed nuisance) I've left the lens cap on.  hmph.

Further on I saw this pair of deer at the egde of same wood.  Not a great photo but interesting how the (I presume) male has one antler smaller than the other.  Immature or a fighting injury? (click for full size)

Nothing else to see today.  This morning I'd seen a barn owl from the A140 being mobbed by a crow over a snowy field, and the day before I'd seen a barn own at New Buckenham common, but missed the photo op.  Still no barn owl at the fen though.  I keep hoping.

Cold tonight, hopefully the light will be good in the morning.  I'll try the far end of the fen and the woodland back, the legs are going to hurt but all being well that will complete 6 weeks' worth of walking.  Just another 46 to go.....