A month of rapidly cooling temperatures, nights dropping to minus 20. And with the sub-zero, an impressive collection of birds at my feeders, not least a Hazel Grouse and a grand total of seven species of woodpecker, including Three-toed Woodpecker and five White-backed Woodpeckers.

Equally impressive have been the mammals - highlights including a Polecat in the first week, both Stone and Pine Martens on a nightly basis and one Beaver active despite the snow and ice. Also a Yellow-necked Mouse on my feeders.