Cruel cold.

Sightings of note today were of Raptors .
Two Red Kites on the way home from Haverfordwest around lunchtime. One wheeling over fields adjacent to the A40 near the Sealyham turnoff, another ten minutes later, over fields opposite the junction of the A4219 and the A 487 St Davids Road, between Panteg and Manorowen.
On the way up our hill a smallish looking (probably juvenile) male Sparrowhawk struggled to fly with a dead male black bird it had evidently killed. I had to keep stopping for it to catch its breath before it found a gap in the hedge and escaped with its much needed prize.
I love the song of the blackbird but its a natural prey item of the sproghawk . I fear this cold spell will claim many more victims both songbirds and raptors before we hear blackbirds singing again.
PS. water for birds is as important as food especially if they are feeding on seeds etc. Strangely, hot water freezes quicker than cold...