Are you one of those people who hates winter, with its cold, gloom and in particular its short hours of daylight?
This time of year, for me, is a time of glorious light and colours. These change rapidly as frost forms and melts, clouds and their reflections form into fantastic shapes and morph into others, while birds take on new colours as the sun sets behind the sand plant.
And I can still get home in time for my warming tea!
Big skies and cloud reflections were constantly changing in this panorama taken from Sandgrounders’ hide with my mobile phone.
Late afternoon orange sunshine contrasts beautifully with a distant passing snowstorm.
A cloud of black-tailed godwits flashes white as they wheel and turn into the winter sun. This represents a fraction of the thousands which overwinter here.
Marshside is famous for its hares, this one warm in its fur coat among the covering of frost crystals.
A male shoveler, painted in sunset colours, relaxes in the stillness of a late winter afternoon.
This little grebe keeps visitors entertained with its cute diving activities.
RSPB Marshside, with its wide vistas spreading as far as Blackpool and the Lake district hills to the north, the mountains of Snowdonia to the south, Winter Hill with its cluster of aerials to the east and the endless horizon of the Irish Sea to the west, is perfectly situated to provide an ever-changing panorama of big skies, dramatic landscapes and breath-taking birds.
Now picture the birds taking their place in this drama, and don’t forget to wrap up warmly to enjoy this winter bonanza!