Patterns in the Sand

 A sunny walk along the shore at Mawbray, in some dramatic light.....

Winter Wedholme

And a trip out from last week, before we got this dark, dank weather.... a frosty walk on Wedholme Flow.  Very little bird life visible, but some nice ice. 

Skiddaw.

Reflections.

Plenty of water ...

Of ice and Otters

I do like the patterns that ice makes as floods drain away....and as for seeing the Otter run across the ice ....

Reflections of reeds in the open water. 

Mute Swans in a nice light.

Ice patterns...

Spot the Otter at the edge of the reeds...

And across the ice....

Bearded Reedlings

 Now obviously you can't just take a couple of photos of these little fluff-balls! First on the grit trays, then in the reeds.

Leighton Moss: Bearded Reedlings and Otter

With a thaw imminent, we headed down to Leighton Moss. The water was still frozen at the edges and the ducks were all ponded up in the open areas. An otter crossing the frozen water was an unexpected highlight, as really were the six Bearded Reedlings on the grit trays...although obviously we had hoped! 

A good range of duck species..

Shoveler

A congregation of Coot.

Coot: there were plenty of Coot and Moorhen and Water Rails - squealing in the reeds. 

To our delight three pairs of Bearded Reedling appeared at the grit trays.

It's always nooce ot get photographs of them not on the trays.

Snipe.

As we were sat having lunch, an otter ran across the ice! 

Hallin Fell and Steel Knotts

Wow! A second consecutive day in the snow. With strong winds forecast for the tops we thought it best to stay low, so we decided on Hallin Fell for its spectacular views and Steel Knotts as the path goes from the same carpark - the carpark that is usually rammed and difficult to get too - not today though being in mid November. 

Hallin Fell summit.

Panorama looking up Ullswater .

Zooming in to Helvellyn and Catstycam.

A cracking view.

Plenty of evidence of frost heave on the path up Steel Knotts.

Quality snow.

The ridge towards Steel Knotts.

..and the summit.....

Looking further along the ridge...but we headed back - an tricky descent in winter conditions.