Freezing

We didn't stay out for long this morning.  Cloudier than of late, the thermometer pointed to about 3 degrees, but the strong wind was making it feel much colder than that.  We set out quickly for Straw's Bridge.

The lake was almost covered with gulls.  Black-headed gulls, Lesser Black-backed gulls and two or three Common gulls.  All squabbling and all desperate for scraps of bread.  The Geese were squabbling, the Swans were squabbling and the Coots were squabbling.  It seems that the freezing wind was getting to everything.

The path under the bridge to the other lakes is still flooded, so when we set out for home, we diverted to take a look at the lake from another direction.  The Council have recently put up a couple of signs to warn us of the flood - this has to be the most pointless signage ever installed.

A little closer to home and we found a couple of Coltsfoot flowers opening their yellow blooms to the bitter wind.  In previous years, these flowers have been out at the beginning of March, but this year, the freezing weather has delayed their appearance by about a month.  Worth waiting for though.

Views

This morning, we took a longer walk in the sunshine, but still battling against the naggingly cold easterly wind.  Heading out around Shipley Park, we walked off in the direction of Mapperley Village and were amazed to see so much snow still clinging on in some of the fields.

Through the village and past the reservoir, we climbed Shipley Hill which afforded fine views to the north and off in the direction of he large open-cast mine at Smalley.

Close by, a rather gnarled and odd-looking ash tree caught my eye.  With a large chunk of it missing from the top and the rest of the branches held at some very strange angles, this Ash presented an interesting shape against the blue sky.  With the threat of ash die-back disease every-present, it would seem as though this particular tree's 'number is up' one way or another.

Tundra

For once, the sun shone beautifully on us this morning.  So despite the cold we decided on a longer walk around the park this morning.  Close to Osborne's Pond, the views across the fields were rather 'tundra-like'.

The snow is beginning to melt away and reveal the green grass underneath, but the temperature is still well below average for the time of year.

Back home over Shipley Hill and down the other side and the trees were trying very hard to open their buds in the wood.  The Snowdrops are fading but the Daffodils still haven't opened their flowers - and who can blame them in the snow.  Still, things were definitely looking up this morning.

Arty

Once again, the bitter wind was finding ways into our clothing this morning as we walked to Straw's Bridge.  Although the worst of the snow seems to have stopped (for the time being), there is still plenty of it hanging around and where it has started to thaw, puddles have formed which froze over night and made certain parts of our walk rather 'tricky'.  The sun was doing it's best however, to break through the lowering clouds and it all made for some rather 'arty' shots.

By now, the Oaks should really be bursting into life and starting to show a little green among the branches, but the lone Oak tree on this corner was looking decidedly dormant today.

But at least the sun was trying to cheer the scene and if it hadn't been for the biting wind still blowing in from the east, it would have been a much better morning.  And there's still no sign of an improvement...

It's 'Quackers'

Still, the snow falls (thankfully much lighter this morning) and a couple of pictures seem to say it all.  From our patio doors, the plastic ducks which stand guard over the back garden are up to their little quacks in snow.

What the 'drake' is looking so happy about, I really can't think.  Maybe he knows things are going to get better soon....  Lets hope!

Getting Worse

Over night, the snow has continued to fall and the wind has blown even more strongly.  So, this morning we woke to several more inches of snow blanketing everything.  The view from our front room window says it all.

Despite the bitter cold and the ever-inflating gas bill, you cannot deny that the scene is rather beautiful, even if the poor little Blue tits are having trouble perching in the snow-covered tree.

The hedgerows are white...

The gardens are white...

I think it must be Christmas already!  Now where did I put those decorations..?  And where are the sprouts?

Spring?

In line with much of Britain, we awoke this morning to an inch thick covering of snow.  And we thought this was supposed to be the end of March!  Feels more like the end of January at the moment.  The snow is rather wet and slushy so I don't think it will last very long and with any luck we will be able to get out for a walk this afternoon.  The poor birds are looking a little bemused at the un-seasonal weather and the fat-balls are taking a bit of a hammering this morning.  This little chap was looking all 'puffed-up' in the as he waited for his turn on the feeder...

.. His missus was certainly getting her beak full while she could.

Things shouldn't be this cold at this time of year - maybe things will improve next week.