Back

Malcolm and I got back from our break in Lanzarote last night.  Landing at about 8pm in temperatures touching zero and snow to scrape off the car, was a bit of a shock to the system, but it was nice (for me anyway - I can't claim the same is true for Malcolm) to get to see the snow before it melts.  There will be numerous pictures from Lanzarote over the next few days, but until I get them sorted out, here are a few to be going on with.  Firstly the sunrise on our first day...

We stayed in Matagorda, close to the Airport and the beaches which run along one side of it.

We're not the type to spend our holidays laying on the beach, preferring to take long walks beside the sea instead - and we did plenty of that.

More to follow...

Foggy

Following days of mild, wet weather, we awoke this morning to fog and frost.  So, well wrapped up against the biting cold, we set out for a walk around Shipley Park.

Slippery under foot and with hoar frost clinging to almost everything, the scene would have been beautiful had it not been for the fog which made it tricky to see much at all.  Despite the fog, the sun was trying to break through and as we climbed Shipley Hill and got closer to the top of the fog layer, it made a lovely picture against the dark and ghostly trees.

Home for a warm I think!

Quickie

Just a quickie this morning after the domesticity of household chores, so it was off into town via the Nutbrook Trail and the golf course.  The weather has taken a turn for the better this morning but along with the bright sunshine, comes the falling temperature and a touch of frost more in keeping with the season.
Only one picture from this morning, taken as we walked along the trail with the old canal to our right shrouded by the trees.  Although, how long the trees will last is debatable as the local farmer seems to be doing his best to cut everything down.  The chainsaw has been in almost constant use for months!

The sun was a very welcome sight, although as it sparkled through the branches and into our eyes, it made it rather tricky to see where we were going.

Ratty!

The 'Ratty' of Kenneth Graham's stories is, of course not a rat at all, but a Water Vole.  Due in part to unsympathetic farming, building, pollution and water-course management, the poor old Water Vole has had a bad time of it in recent years.  Then, the spread of American Mink in our countryside has taken it's toll on the species.  As a result, populations of these charming little creatures, has plummeted by up to 95%, a decline which is still happening.  So, it was with great surprise and delight that I saw one this morning.
I have read with interest in recent months, about people seeing signs of Water Voles in these parts, but sightings of the animal itself have been very few and far between.  But, there it was, swimming across the Nutbrook before scrabbling out of the water and disappearing into the shrubbery on the bank, close to Straw's Bridge.
Sadly, it all happened within a couple of seconds and I had no chance of getting a picture, but what a  wonderful sight it was.
Meanwhile, on 'Swan Lake' the Canada Geese were creating havoc and the Mallards were displaying like mad to each other, so no change there!

Spring?

Walking round the lakes of Straw's Bridge this morning, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Spring had sprung.  The birds were all singing in the trees, the Alder and Hazel trees were opening their catkins, the Mallards were pairing off and the Coots were fighting (no change there).  At 'Swan Lake' there was a large congregation of Black-headed Gulls and they were all either squabbling among themselves, preening on the shore or dipping for food in the water.

Some were showing signs of regaining their black (actually chocolate brown) heads, another sure sign that Spring was closer than you might think.

Among the ducks, swans, geese and gulls, a few, delicate-looking Moorhens were to be found picking their way through the shingle of the lake shore, in search of morsels of food.

All very Spring-like.  The very mild temperature is most welcome, not least for the reduction in Winter gas bills, but one cannot help thinking that we might yet be in for a very cold shock to the system.  But for the moment, we're enjoying the nice weather and the birds seem grateful too.

Depressing

It's that time of year again.  The 'Post-Christmas' depression has set in and it was not helped by the dull, grey, overcast weather this morning.  The gloom was lifted by the sight of more Waxwings in the trees around Shipley Park.  Indeed, there were around 60 or more and they seemed to be displaying a hitherto unseen characteristic.  Instead of feasting in groups, on those berries which are still left, they were all sitting in the tree-tops in singles or pairs and flying out to catch insects mid-air before returning to their perches.  The very mild weather was obviously responsible for there being enough insects to be bothered with, but the Waxwings were clearly very pleased with this unseasonal bounty.  Strangely, they were all silent as they went about their food-gathering labours unlike when they are foraging for berries, when their silvery trilling is constant accompaniment.
Unfortunately, the Waxwings were too far away, too quick at flitting after insects and the weather too dull to capture any pictures, so here are a couple more from New Year's Day.

What little beauties they are!

Back home to get on with that most depressing of tasks, the taking-down of the Christmas decorations.  Hey Ho, that's it for another year I suppose.

A Good Start

Well, following an evening seeing the New Year in with a smile and a 'tincture', this morning we woke to blue skies and a beautiful day.  So it was out and about to welcome the new year with a stroll around Straw's Bridge.  On the way we encountered a flock of about 40 Waxwings in the tree tops.

Despite being a good way off, a convenient tree trunk helped to hold the camera still and with the camera zoomed in, I managed to get a few decent shots.

With the sun shining on the birds and a darkening sky behind them, they looked wonderful and made a wonderful start to the day and the New Year.