Hill

A nice walk this morning, took us around Shipley Lake, along to Osborne's Pond, then up Shipley Hill before completing the 'circuit' and returning home.
The walk up the afforded some nice views across Shipley Park especially with the continuing, fine Autumn colours.  These two trees were still hanging on to most of their leaves despite the strengthening wind.

Looking like sentinels against the grey sky, they seem to sum up the time of year rather well.
Reaching the top of the hill, we turned south to return home and get the views across Ilkeston.  The magnificent Beech tree which stands guard at this point has lost all of its leaves being so exposed.  Most of them are still surrounding the tree's beautiful roots making for an interesting picture and something of an 'arty' shot.

Looking Back

No walk this morning, except to Tesco for shopping and a 'big breakfast', so I thought it would be nice to look back at what was catching my eye on this day in past years.
Two years ago my eye was drawn to the Autumnal colours on the top of Shipley hill.  Particularly the bright red of the Acer.

In the same spot, the Yew trees were adding their own redness to the scene.   These waxy fruits are well known (erroneously) to be poisonous.  In fact, the fruit itself is harmless, it's the seed inside which is poisonous.

Berries of a different kind also dot the hedgerows in this area.  This time they belong to a variegated Holly tree, reminding us that Christmas is just a few weeks away now!

Reflections

Another rather gloomy morning for a walk, but nevertheless, we set out for a stroll around the Straw's Bridge lakes.  The smaller of the lakes, which is normally almost devoid of wildfowl, this morning was sporting a magnificent Mute Swan reflected int he water's surface.  The golden leaves around the lake were also reflected beautifully.

Having discovered that we had no bread and being less than impressed by my pointing my camera at him, he turned tail and swam off.

Scarlet

I am unashamedly posting lots of photos of the Autumn colour these days and this morning's walk around Shipley Lake, Shipley Hill and Osborne's Pond, revealed yet more of these vibrant hues.  Starting with a look along the path which skirts the lake and looking up to the reddening Beeches on the hill.

At the Nottingham Lodge on top of Shipley Hill, a small cut-leaved Acer immediately caught the eye, glowing deep pink among its neighbours.

Further along on our return from Osborne's Pond, we reached the section known as Dog Kennel Coppice and a magnificent Beech Tree turning deep red and gold.

Back up to Pit Lane and another member of the Acer family provided the Scarlet of today's title.  The colour, shining so bright, it confused my camera's auto setting into thinking it was looking at a sunset.  But, it was just as beautiful as any sunset ever was.

Brightness

Little or no brightness over the past couple of days, so we have been unable to appreciate the glorious colours of Autumn as much as we would have liked.  But it does give me the opportunity to post a couple more pictures taken in sunnier times.

I can never get enough of this annual spectacle and think it's one of the best times of year.  Who could argue when faced with evidence such as this...

In the mist and fog of the past few days, spider's webs have been glistening with dew-drops in what little morning light we have had.  Our hedge has been bedecked with these jewel-encrusted structures like Christmas decorations.

Fog

Just one word sums up this morning's walk.  Fog!

Instead of it being the 'Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness', it looked more like the season of fog and muffled greyness.  All was quiet across the Manor Floods. 

Even the ducks and coots were quiet as they picked their way across the water's surface in the murky mist.  It did make for a good picture or two.

Odds

Just a few 'odds and ends' this morning as we had no walk in the park, rather a fraught and hot-under-the-collar visit to Tesco.
Starting with a Great Spotted Woodpecker, which was being rather vocal on an electricity wire yesterday morning as we passed.

Close by the woodpecker, a field of tall grass, has recently been inhabited by a small herd of six Highland Cattle.  Looking fearsome with their long and sharp horns, they seem not to care at all about anything going on about them and stare into the distance, chewing the cud and occasionally giving the passer-by, a superior look.

Lastly for today, a rather more noisy and fractious local inhabitant.  The lakes of Straw's Bridge are populated by Black-headed Gulls and their squawking and squabbling is a constant accompaniment to the otherwise calm scene.