At the time I am writing this we are all able to enjoy jolly sociable meals celebrating Christmas.

In the meanwhile wildlife is hungrily searching for food. Blue tits, Great tits and a Robin are raiding my seed feeders and the fat and nut balls. While Magpies and Woodpigeons are also going for anything available and knocking over the water in a plastic dish which they have already trampled in. My neighbour showed me a photo of a Wren hopping among low plants in his garden. Wrens are insect feeders and I also have a visiting Wren which must be ferreting around for small insects attracted by food dropped from the bird feeders. Not a time to tidy up as there may be available food around. Two young pheasants also paid me a visit yesterday evening. I also hear  them in the nearby plantation. The other  evening a neighbour and I heard a series of single short sharp barks in the plantation which we are fairly sure were made by a Muntjac and not by a wandering dog. Muntjacs frequently visit our flowerbeds and eat plants they fancy.