
The Common Cranes - Les Grues in French - have been flying south west in large flocks this month. Understandably, they appeared to pick out the nice, sunny days for their journey. I felt sure that they knew I was hoping for some video footage or photographs, so they very strategically stayed just out of range! On the couple of occasions that they did fly almost directly overhead, I was totally off guard and unprepared. Here, the lesson to be learned from nature is that, as for all life, it is unpredictable and not to be taken for granted.

I have enjoyed some early morning walks to the orchard and although cold and frosty, it is great for my mental health. My lungs fill with clean, fresh air and my sense of smell goes into overdrive. Because the fields are so white it is easy to see the animal trails and I wonder what has been prowling throughout the night. I often see Roe deer taking flight to the woods as they pick up my scent on the breeze. I hear the calls of the Buzzards as they patrol the skies on their first hunt of the day and the singing of the birds as they celebrate the sunrise. I can feel the solid, frozen ground under my feet and the crunching sound as I walk over the grass. When I arrive at the orchard, friendly Robin is always there to greet me with a quick song just to let me know I have strayed into his territory.

Being in nature is not just about what I see. I always try to use all of my senses or I risk missing out on so much. I also take note of how I feel. For example, am I at one with nature? Or am I still thinking about problems and difficulties in my life? I find that the more I focus on in nature, the more I feel connected to it and any negative thoughts are pushed into the background. This is something that has interested me over the years, in particular when I did my honours degree. I can now personally verify the research I studied during that time, having put a lot of it into practice.
As well as the early morning strolls, I get much enjoyment from being out just before sunset. The birds are all feeding themselves up in readiness for the cold night ahead. The sun, low in the sky, creates magical colours on the remaining autumn leaves on the hedgerows and trees. The whole landscape seems to glow in golden light and I am left with a warm and magical feeling. As the sun slips down over the horizon, I notice how quiet and peaceful it becomes and am also aware of the sudden drop in temperature. I find myself hoping that the wildlife has adequate shelter for the night. I have really enjoyed the autumn here in Creuse, but I am now starting to see signs that winter is nearly upon us and that the landscape will change again.

Another enlightening and descriptive blog Andy. 👍😊