Long tailed tit

This morning I went for my walk around the village. There were a number of neighbours also out walking and we had conversations at a sensible distance. I've noticed that people are observing the social distancing much better than at the beginning of the week.

I went along a footpath that is rarely used (at least I've never seen people on it). It's difficult underfoot and sometimes has a herd of cows in the field and they can be temperamental.

I heard a lot of noise coming from a hawthorn hedge and it was a pair of long tailed tits chasing each other. They didn't notice me as they were more interested in each other and I watched them hunting for insects in the hedge and tree.

Further along I saw a dead polecat. I saw one near my house a while ago but was in the car so didn't have my camera handy. Evidence of their presence is usually by seeing dead bodies. I'll let the local mammal group know as they keep a record of sightings (they're quite rare in the county). 

I also saw my first peacock butterfly of the season so good sightings near home.