8th Feb 2021

It was painfully cold on Hafod Road this afternoon. Incredibly the birds were still eager to take a dip in their icy bath. The cold hurt my finger tips so I didn’t hang around. We ventured further along the road as snow began to fly sideways like tiny frozen pearls. I stud by a tree hoping it would act as a windbreak. There was a movement above me in the tree. A tiny treecreeper made its way up the sheltered side of the trunk. It paused and appeared to feel the biting wind as much as me. Even the dog began to shiver. I managed a couple of shots before my fingers began to freeze.

When we reached the lay-by the east wind blew straight up the meadow to full effect. My face mask provided some protection but the cold was relentless.

The dog looked at me pleadingly and I agreed. We turned for home. A bright flash of warm scarlet stopped me in my tracks. A cock bullfinch was acrobatically feeding on fresh buds. I risked taking the camera out as the snow had stopped and I managed to get a few images of the stunning bird