I am still here with my brother and sis-in law and my stay in the UK is starting to wind-down. I can’t believe that the time has passed by so quickly. This morning brought the first really cold morning of my visit with a sharp frost. I love that crunch under foot and the delicate patterns that the frost makes on leaves and paths. No matter how cold it is Maggie still needs her walks and luckily there is an excellent country park within walking distance of their house. The park is within spitting distance of the village where I was born and lived for over 16yrs, but it never existed when I was growing up. The dominating feature of the park is the lake, a former drinking water reservoir, and now a haven for wildlife. The surrounding woodland is glorious, even in the grey depths of winter. I love the ‘tree-skeletons’ at this time of year.

The back row of trees look like up-turned witches brooms, parked up neatly for a spooky convention!

Now I’m sure that I’m not alone in asking why don’t water birds seem bothered about having their bum submerged in freezing cold water? (Answers on a post-card please).

Maggie is definitely in her element on walks like this, sniffing in the leaves and dirt, chasing the smells of any number of unseen wild animals, and hopelessly trying to catch birds that flutter away long before she gets near.

Typical, isn’t it? The comorants were all lined up in a row, perched on the posts, drying out their wings…until I took out the camera. They must be camera shy because all but one dived into the lake and this one tucked away its wings.

I find there is a stark beauty in the winter trees, as if they have been pencilled onto the skyline. Before we know it the days will be lengthening and there will be a faint green hue heralding the arrival of spring. Until then there is plenty of winter left.

A bientot!