My first visit to Brandon, and a much needed boost after Xmas/NY.
It was cold, no, make that raw, though the temp was only just below zero, all pools were frozen over, with small pockets that either had flowing water in to them, or the morning sun was casting its futile heat over.
But it was good to be out.
I’d heard the starlings had been very quiet, so I wasn’t expecting to see any murmuration, and with only one sighting of Barnie, which didn’t make for much to aim for. But getting out was the reward on it's own, everything else would be a bonus.
What did shock me was the tide marks from the heavy rainfall we’d experienced between Xmas and New Year, debris deposited in some high places.
Just to set the location detail, Brandon Marsh is a flood plain, and as such, the reserve is managed accordingly.
Not to be deterred, there’s always something to see, just sometimes you need to stop, look, listen and understand what has happened, is happening, seek and you’ll see.
The morning started quite unusually, a very disgruntled robin was rudely awoken by my car headlights as I pulled up into a parking bay!
I did sympathise, even I’d feel disgruntled if the same happened to me, but with modern cars now having daytime running lights that stay on even after switching the ignition off, I did feel for the poor chappie, only to be disturbed again when I opened the car door and the side lights came on!
Dawn over Albans Reedbed
Sunrise over Albans Reedbed
A very quiet starling murmuration, click HERE to watch the short video.
A frozen East Marsh Pool, the other pools were similar
Waterfowl huddled in one of the small and very few areas of little or no ice….
Mr & Mrs Shoveler: “Dancing on ice”?
The shovelers did find water to swim on, but none seemed to dare put their beaks below the water surface…..
The mallard cartel
Mr Mallard
A crow keeping an eye on me as I pass by
The sightings for those interested in alphabetical order:
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
PimperneBloke said:Nice to see you out again Mike, and in sunshine too....bonus!! lol Thanks for sharing the chill!! :o)
Thank you PB.
Good to be back out, and there's more to come, was out again yesterday.
SnappyMac said:Nice set of photo's with the early morning light, good to see the shovelers :)
Thank you.
It was an interesting morning with the pools frozen over, and watching how the waterfowl cope. But damned cold, though not as cold as yesterday.
WendyBartter said:Great pics and pleased to hear you felt so good but did have to don hat, scarf & gloves to read through, brrrrrrrrrr!
It was good to be back out. Yes, I still wear the type of clothing that I would have worn back in my mountaineering days, merino base layer, thermal mid-layer, and of course a suitable outer jacket. The gloves are what I would wear out mountaineering, thermal but not thick enabling easy operating of cameras and binocs etc a choob/snood, a tubular scarfe made from polartec fleece that does a good job of trapping the heat in and of course, a beanie.
I often take two pairs of gloves on raw cold days (winter skills training), because heat does escape easily through the opening where you insert your hand. Wear one pair, keep the other pair in a warm dry place, often between the base and mid-layer, so when the heat has escaped, swap them around, get and warm the cold pair back up. Yes you do get a short burst of cold, but that soon dissipates and you have a warm pair of gloves at the ready.
No need for hand warmers to be charged up.
The original advice was due to snow accumulating on the outer jacket sleeves and running down into the glove opening, so we were expected to take four pairs of gloves, because once wet, they are no longer thermal.
Linda257 said:Was only a matter of time Mike as there's no keeping you in lol certainly looked a bright day for it and plenty to see
There's no way I was going to let a silly little microbe and its friends wipe me out...
There's more photos to follow.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Lynn L said:Glad you got out and had an enjoyable day Mike. Nice pictures to show for it.
There's more to follow from another visit......