Saturday 21 November
So good to get out in the daylight today. We went just along the south bank of the Stour estuary to Wrabness and a walk through ancient woodland and open meadow.
It’s definitely one of our favourite places. The woods themselves are well managed, something I had never given any consideration to until relatively recently. In the autumn large individual trees and patches are cut-down to allow younger tree-lings to grow from the cut stumps or for new trees to be planted.
As we walk through, I take big deep breaths of fresh air. All week I have been waiting for this, out with my family, in the middle of the day, breathing cool, clean air. The sun briefly finds a space between the clouds and crackles through the bear branches.
In the corner of my eye, I am distracted by a leaf fluttering down from the tree tops. Much less common now, especially since the winds and rain last weekend. They flip-flop from light to dark, browns, golds and yellows. They appear like the precious last few pops of pop-corn in the pan, you have to be careful you don’t miss them.
Then a walk through the meadow with Mabel flitting down scrambles to the sandy strips and reed beds below. It’s an opportunity to see the world through her eyes, everywhere and everyday is an adventure.
The Bald Birder 