The snow fell during the week before this patrol. It was very reminiscent of the beginning of the year. The events of the Gardens and Parkland have taken on Christmas, and deer feeding, especially in deep snow, can only be an added, if short term, attraction. Deer feeding does go on during the winter months and to carry out the activity nearer the house does spark enjoyment for visitors, who, this afternoon, were a primary school group.We spent a time with Terry and the deer and especially with Lenny. Lenny is very social but prefers people to deer. This makes life difficult as he is not one of the herd as he should be. Ensuring Lenny gets his fair share of food, Terry used us, while distracting the bulk of the herd by scattering feed further away, to ensure Lenny got a better deal. Lenny is small as well which makes integration a little more of a problem for him.
The parkland today is quiet. The snow, now frozen from being on the ground for a week now, was firm enough to walk on and, where deep, icy enough to behave like dry sand, hardly sticking to the boots.
Hare tracks laced the white fields south of the Rotunds, and soon Ian spotted one making a dash from one hole in the snow to another. As Minerva appeared as the Argyll monument rose into view, there was clearly a large bird perched upon her head. A buzzard sat on this vantage point and, after a brief flight away returned to take up the spot again. Clearly disturbed by our approach, it took off again and flew towards Broomroyd plantation. That was the last we saw of that day.
The day was closing down fast and a check of the dates told us that two weeks after this it will be the Solstice, after which the light will fight back on its haul towards midsummer.
