A Monthly Publication

 ‘February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake again’ so runs the old poem that I quoted last month, it remains to be seen what it will bring, according to all the old Country sayings it is a wet month, hence the title. Still that is in the future, we certainly had our share of cold and snow recently and I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of it. I am still feeding lots of Blackbirds, I think 28 is my best count so far but that means many more as they come and go. This morning, 23^rd January I heard a Skylark singing over the back field, not in full voice I grant you but trying! Other birds are beginning to try out their voices as well; the scratchy song of the Dunnock can be heard, when I was learning bird song someone suggested it sounded like a squeaky hospital trolley, that stuck and has helped me ever since. Now is the time to start brushing up on bird song as our resident birds start to claim their territories.  I find this helps when the Summer Migrants start appearing, it also helps if you can find away to compare song with something else, unless you are one of those lucky people who have a good musical ear. One or two tips, Robins sing in 4 or 5 second bursts with a few seconds break, they also sound very sweet, Great Tits song is like a pump blowing up a car tyre, the Coal Tits are quieter, more cycle pump, the Wren sounds as if is firing a machine gun in the middle of its loud song and the Chaffinches seem to end up threatening to ‘eatchyou’

 The last few days have also reminded me of the Thomas Hood poem ‘November’ it has been so grey, still and dank! I think the weather has caught on to the fact I am thinking about a Solar Panel!!

 Time passes and February has made it on to the scene and today the 1^st is freezing but largely sunny with the threat of heavy rain on at least 2 days this week, may be it will come down as snow!!! I hope not. I have noticed that in spite of the snow and ice the now clear verges are beginning to turn brighter green with the new growth of Alexanders and some Wild Arum leaves, Wild Arum has lots of local names around the country, Parson in the Pulpit, Lords and Ladies, and Cuckoo Pint to name a few. Alexanders reputedly came in with the Romans and seems to love the banks and verges here in Norfolk, I never saw it ‘up north.’ Another version is that it is a herb of Macedonia the country of Alexander the Great hence its name. It can be eaten as a vegetable but I have never been tempted, have you? Another surprise is in a quiet corner of my garden I have a clump of wild Primroses in flower again the name gives a clue, Prima Rosa means the first rose as does the Latin Primula which is its scientific base name. It is heartening to see them, however my snowdrops seem to be none existent this year. They have either rotten or been eaten by mice or may be they haven’t got up yet.

 The last few nights have been beautifully clear and the stars have been fabulous, as has the full moon. The other thing of note has been Mars glowing very red in the Eastern sky, We are pretty lucky round here we don’t have to travel far to get out of the light pollution that blights so many of our cities. It is awe inspiring to stand and gaze up at the stars on a really clear night it can be hard to even find the Constellations because there are so many stars to be seen. It blows my mind to think of the distances and amount of space there is out there. It makes me even more happy to know and trust in My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

ROTARY CLUB OF HUNSTANTON & DISTRICT

You and your family & friends are invited to a

CHARITY FUNDRAISING EVENING

With supper and entertainment by

PETER WADDISON (WADDO)

at Sedgeford Village Hall, Wednesday 31st March 7.30pm

Tickets price £15

available from Fat Birds Don’t Fly, Hunstanton

In support of the Worldwide Polio Eradication Programme

GRAND RAFFLE  -  MANY PRIZES!