We had a very good spell of weather at the beginning of this month, and there were some very colourful sunrises to go with it.
It was a colder start to most days but by mid-morning when the sun got up it was enjoyable weather to be out and about in for the time of year, and it also let us push on with some of our work about the riverside.
One job started this month was tidying up along the pathway at Newburgh between the old boatyard and the county burn.
It was mostly work for the lopers and the hedge cutter that was involved, as we cut back any overhang on the canopy and side growth that was encroaching onto the pathway itself.
We also took the chance to move some of our kit about the riverside (from one job to another) with the old barge while the weather was settled and the tides were smaller, these conditions always make life a bit easier.
There was the odd setback with some of the plant when the old digger threw a track, but this was soon sorted out and we had it up and running again. By mid-month the river was back out in spate again, with the river level showing at almost fourteen feet on the gauge up at our Cargill rod beat, but it was soon dropping back again as a cold snap of weather kicked in.
The swans and ducks were happy to take advantage of the grain that was being put out for them at this time of year.
The smaller birds were much busier around the feeders that have been put up around the place.
We have started to see a few more Whooper swans coming in about, and the redshank numbers are slowly climbing (12 in one sighting being the best for this month). There is a buzzard with white wing tags (number 49) on it that has been hanging about for a few weeks now and we are seeing a few Goldeneye at times, along with the odd seal and Otter.
It was a quieter month up at Perth Harbour but there was still the odd coaster about plying its trade. There were bigger tides nearer the end of the month; but the spell of hard frosty weather had helped the spate ease off on the system and leave the river with a wintery look about it, this weather held up to the last couple of days before turning milder as the year came to a close.
Happy New Year