Icy

Another beautiful morning for a walk through Shipley Park.  Taking advantage of the still frozen ground, we decided to walk up Shipley Hill, around the old hall site and then down and round the old theme park, a walk which is not so easy at this time of year when it's not frozen as it gets a bit muddy.  But what a view from atop the hill.

It's still very much a snowy scene as you can see, but with the promise of slightly higher temperatures over the next few days, it doesn't look like it will stay snowy for much longer.  So, for now, let's make the most of it while it lasts.

Heading back, the view over towards the Power Station of Ratcliffe-on-Soar proves how much extra power is needed during these cold spells.  The smoke and steam are billowing out at an alarming rate.

A little further on and a small bird which could probably do with a little warmth of it's own.  A stunningly colourful, male Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), sat watching us walk by keeping it's distance as they usually do, but looking beautiful in the pale sunlight.

Back home and another bird was doing it's best to keep warm.  This time it was a male Blackbird (Turdus merula), sitting on our fence and helping himself to a large number of Pyracantha berries.  He was popping them down like a child with a tube of Smarties and looking rather pleased with himself.