There is something staggeringly beautiful about the winter landscape and its colours. A day like we've had in East Anglia makes that all the more obvious - look at the colour of this sky in this photo taken on the banks of the river Cam at Kingfisher Bridge Bird Reserve this morning.
I think you'll just have to take my word for it: there is a kestrel in the picture. It was one of five raptors seen today. The others were marsh harriers, buzzards, a peregrine falcon and a sparrow hawk. There was much for them to feed on - although the last four might all have been keen on the 300 or so lapwing who were obvious targets.
What was weird was that there was almost no one was about - and it really was not that cold because there was almost no wind chill. A lot of people missed out on something really good.
I also took this. There is something magnificent about a dormant deciduous tree in winter waiting for spring to come again:
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I was always surprised how quickly it turned. In a previous life I had to cross the Woodhead Pass. I was on a five week rota – so in five weeks I’d be doing the same journey again at about the same time. It could be spectacular. At the top looking east I could see dozens of miles especially if the sun was rising and it was clear. If the shortest day was about 21st December the next iteration of the rota would be late Jan and the next early March. I was constantly amazed at the scenery and how much it changed even within seasons. Once it had snowed and the Woodhead looked resplendant (not a word I’d thought I’d use when it came to the Woodhead) in the snow and a crisp blue sky. Compared to Nigeria where there was no demarkation between “seasons”. 6pm-6:30pm it went dark. Almost instantly. All year.
I’m currently fascinated by looking at mixed woodland areas and comparing the heights of the conifers and the deciduous trees. In most places they are remarkably similar despite their different strategies for growth.
But I wonder if this locale is one where conifers would win if it were not for human intervention.
Excellent question. But overall, reflecting on local evidence, I would say mot.
Great pictures. Living in East Anglia is such a wonderful place to be.
I really enjoy my walk to work each day early in the morning through the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds!
They can be quite beautiful
I like Bury. It is human sized.
Lovely photos.
We are incredibly fortunate to live facing the Pyrenees, at the moment they are snow capped and at their very best. We see raptors every day including vultures (I think they can be classed as raptors?) Eagles, kestrel and many others, our greatest memory was seeing some thirty red kites circling and climbing on the eddies.
We gave a lift to a couple of hang gliders wanting a lift into the mountains very keen to soar with these birds, why we asked; “because they know where to find the best eddies.”
Here in Hertfordshire, just a couple of miles from the M25, there are loads of red kites. I never tire of watching them glide, manouvere or sometimes settle on the ground, briefly, or in a tree. Amazing birds, very agile for their size, and with that distinctive V-shaoed tail.
Every now and then, they suddenly appear in large numbers (8, 10, 15 or more) when one of them spots a particulary good food source, and within a few minutes others appear as if by magic.
I admit they’re my least favourite raptor. Not sure why, but they ate the only one I find a bit sinister. My favourite? Marsh harriers, but I am luck to see them almost any day I want.
Spotted the kestrel – great pic.
A dull winter day with skeletal trees in outer North London has its own maybe more modest charm – no raptors but exotic sounding mysterious bird tweets probably parrakeets , many swans, ducks, geese. etc.
Near here In 1557 QE 1st cut the throat of a hart her archers brought down.
Agree re the trees Richard. To see every branch and twig on a tree outlined against the sky is one of winter’s great pleasures.