I returned to the Abbey Fishponds this morning for the monthly visit and it was below zero. Our garden thermometer showed -4 °C when I set out

The are plenty of birds and bird song despite the cold. They not only have the wild life area but there are also lots of surrounding gardens. I think this is a Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) but am happy to be corrected.

An area of sedge appeared to have been cleared and piled up since my last visit. Small streams crossed the area.

Crows were looking for food in the ground where it was not too hard.

Most of the ponds were frozen, and today the ice was solid enough to stand on.

The ice had embedded leaves and twigs.

There were quite a few blackbirds together on the ice near the bottom entrance and some of the males were squabbling. Why don’t they conserve their energy?

There were lots of chopped up trees and branches that could provide some cavities and shelter from the cold, possibly insects and food stores too.

Robins fluff up their feathers to keep themselves warm.

I was glad to get home with the modern convenience of central heating and warm up.