Perky...

After a promising start, with some beautiful pink clouds, which I viewed from my bed, the weather gradually went downhill all day. I managed to walk the dogs before the rain arrived, but there was very little around along the river. I did see a solitary bullfinch, which lurked out of clear view, as usual.

It's a shame that we weren't doing the Big Garden Birdwatch today!! Pete topped up the feeders which attracted large numbers of the usual tits and finches. There was also a large party of foraging long-tailed tits and this handsome, and rather greedy, goldfinch. The first redwings of the year arrived in the garden, but spent most of their time fossicking among the long grass in the orchard, finding fallen apples, too far away for my lens. We also briefly had a beautiful song thrush on the fat balls.

I mostly caught up with washing and shopping today. Although I still have a bit of a sore throat I seem to be keeping the cold at bay at the moment. Which is probably just as well as I've just found out I'm cooking lunch for eight on New year's Day! Pete and I had a lovely light meal of salmon with a cream and tarragon sauce tonight. The boys are having a sleepover which always involves many pizzas!