For the second day in a row it was cold, very cold but bright and gloriously sunny, a day to be outside and for making the best of the perfect sunny light.  My garden is just as good as anywhere at the moment, what with Blaccaps of both sexes, Blue Tits, Great Tits and a Wren singing from nearby. I sat in the hide waiting for some action and for a few minutes, I didn't know where to look next as the Blackcap female crept towards an apple piece, Blue Tits came and went and I could hear Goldfinches, and my thoughts turned to Siskin which are bound to show up soon. Earlier on when I had stood in the kitchen making my first coffee of the day I was surprised to see a Magpie mischievously eating from the fat block really  close to the house. This is unusual, they are clever and very alert, and they don't miss a trick. It is hard to fool them, in fact usually impossible. So when one flew in and landed just a few feet in front of the hide I couldn't believe that I was being presented with such a brilliant photo opportunity.  It didn't linger for long but long enough for me to get  my best Magpie photographs ever.

  Other birds don't like Magpies so they kept a low profile until he had gone.  Then  the Robin popped in to view and with the glorious light couldn't have looked better.

There has been snow in most parts of the UK but not here in Exeter, we have been lucky (or otherwise depending on how you look at it). It is bitterly cold!  I went out to a local restaurant last evening with my family and was horrified to see a couple of homeless people destined to spend the night in the extreme cold, what kind of a society have we that can allow this to happen? I gave them some money even though they were not begging…. like that was going to keep them warm……. but what else could I do?

As it is winter and dark at 4.30 it means that I get the chance to watch a bit of TV.  Last evening on the NATGEOWILD channel I watched an amazing film, the "Life of Hummingbirds". I can thoroughly recommend this film and it's well worth a look at their website here to read about it and find when it is going to be on again.  There is also a short clip of video to give you a flavour of the incredible footage. Click here.