No doubt we were all dreaming of a white Christmas but instead had a very mild soggy one! So, no magical winter wonderland as yet — but the season has plenty of time to do its worst and January and February can be treacherous months.

However, the shortest day is now behind us so let’s look forward to spring. Birds certainly are.

Songs of robins of which there are several in my area are becoming more strident, unlike the more wistful autumnal renderings, while rooks (pictured) are early nesters and now songs of the tit family are more plaintive too.

I was thrilled to hear a song thrush in full voice just one morning before Christmas as I didn’t see or hear any at all last year and no blackbirds quartering my lawn either.

As I write, I am admiring an exquisitely-detailed model of a skylark perched on my desk and hoping that before long I will hear and see one ascending up into the blue, although he may not sing fully until mid-February.