Today Fairburn Ings disappeared. I woke up, looked out of the window, and there was nothing. Ferrybridge power station was gone, and I’m sure Village Bay was there when I went to sleep.
The culprit? A stubborn blanket of fog that lingered until lunchtime.
Why was it fog and not mist? They’re one and the same really – tiny droplets of water suspended in the air. The only difference is density. If you can see more than a kilometre (2/3 of a mile) in front of you it’s mist, any less then it is upgraded to fog.
The large expanses of water at Fairburn mean that there are lots of places for hot air to meet cold and create this hanging water vapour. While it could be considered miserable weather, its rarity and seasonality make it a little bit special I think.
I’m not the only one, there is a distinct chill in the air and families have been arriving this weekend all bundled up for an autumn walk, there is plenty to see after all. If you haven’t cracked out the wellies yet this year then it is definitely time.
While the fog was too thick for it to have been beautiful this morning, it was more...cosy? There have been a few early mornings in the last week which have created stunning, ethereal scenes across the water and amongst the trees.
Any keen photographers that have not yet discovered misty Fairburn mornings, I would urge you to pay a visit.
If you’re keen but new to photography, don’t fret. There will be a photography workshop running on the reserve on Saturday 8 November, led by wildlife photographer Paul Miguel. Find the details here http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/seenature/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-367144
See you in the AM!