Viewing page 217 of 223

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

254.)

13th-26th January 1952. 

Very mixed weather, gales, frost, snow & a few sunny days;  mainly cold, but no severe frost till the night of 25th-26th.  On 25th in afternoon, walked from Rathfarnham via Butterfield Lane to "Pussy's Lep" (just above Templeogue Bridge) & there via Cosgrave to Firhouse where caught 3.30 bus home.  Hills heavily snow-covered above 700 ft. but snow which had fallen during previous night all melted below the height during the forenoon.  Birds in fields very numerous & no doubt many driven down from hills & in a field 1/4 mile south of Pussy's Lep in which were many Redwings, Blackbirds, Lapwings, &c. we watch a flock of Twites at a few yards range feeding in a grazing field around the legs of some calves.  They were very lively & tame & took no notice of us standing up on the ditch to watch them over the hedge.


26th-31st Jan: 52. 

Weather continued cold with frost on many nights & much bright hot sun during day.  On Monday 28th while walking via Butterfield Lane - now rechristened Butterfield Avenue to make it sound sweller & get better ground rent for new houses - the road man pointed to the flooded field S. of the road & beside stream which flows across Golf Links & asked me if I could tell him "What them birds were?"  I looked & saw 3 Oyster Catchers!  They appeared to be feeding on large earth worms which had (?) been driven up by flood & frozen & killed


255.)

by the hard frost, though now "melted" by the hot sun.

With them & running about all over the flooded area were a lot of small birds which I thought were our friends the Twites (seen 1/2 to S.W. on 26th!) & one solitary Pied Wagtail - a very dark bird.

On 30th The Oyster Catchers & 1 Wagtail were still there & the Twites verified with glasses.


1st to 4th February 1952. 

Frosty nights & hot sun during most of the day continued, with odd snow showers over the hills, but most of snow on hills now gone below 1,000 feet.  On 3rd again saw the Twites & 1 Wagtail, but the Oyster Catchers last seen on 1st Feb. (& also Twites & the one dark Wagtail.  Snowdrop (1) under drawing window considered "out" on 3rd.  On 31st Jan. saw a Yellow Crocus well up but not yet "out" in Orwell Park - the only one seen so far even nearly out.  Daphne laureola at hall door with flowers open on 1st Feb. & the Mediterranean Heath in back garden only waiting to open first flower.


5th to 9th Feb. 1952. 

Frosty nights & sunny days continued, except on Wed. 6th when misty rain blew in the SW wind most of the day & some rain in evening followed by frost in early morning of 7th.  After this rain considerable signs of