Dusk and Dawn at Trowell, Nottinghamshire

I was staying at the Travelodge on the M1 at Trowell and went straight out on foot on arrival back there on Sunday afternoon from the trip to Blacktoft Sands - it was almost dark but managed one photo with the colour still in the sky and a blueish tinge to the snow. The next morning I headed out again before sunrise and took the same scene but now the colours were reversed with some pinkish light on the snow and a blueish sky. The next photos are in time sequence as we got nearer to sunrise. The next set will show the landscape once the sun had risen.

Blacktoft Sands Landscapes

A few images of the landscape etc of Blacktoft Sands which lies on the south bank of the River Ouse, where the waterway widens to become the Humber Estuary. Reedbed covers much of the site and this is England's largest intertidal reedbed. There are six shallow saline lagoons with hides, an area of grazing marsh and a small area of mudflat. Scrub between the hides attracts a great variety of warblers and a thriving colony of tree sparrows.

Grey Heron at Bradgate

Always a delight to photograph, this was a particularly photogenic bird at Bradgate, both in the snow and in non-snowy conditions. 

Stars of RSPB Blacktoft Sands

The RPS Nature Group outing to Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve near Goole produced some great close views of commoner waders (including Blacktailed Godwit),ducks etc plus one star species, White-winged Lapwing (last image - an accidental from Iran), at a distance. It was very cold and icy there and 4 of the 6 hides produced no birds at all but was compensated by these great views (all quickly converted from Raw files - will process fully when home and replace)

 

Bradgate Park Early Snow

It snowed heavily for about 30 minutes after I arrived at Bradgate this morning giving some very attractive landscapes with a Chinese painting feel. The snow chnaged to rain so it was a very transient effect. The light level was low so it was difficult to record the deer in the snow.

Storm Light and Trees at Lyveden NT

I stopped off at Lyveden Manor and New Bield in Northamptonshire and walked around the estate (house images to follow). There were some very dramatic skies throughout the couple of hours that I spent there - perfect to show off the winter trees.