Sunday, December 18, 2011

When the weather outside is frightful...


Out at 8.30am with JWR over the moors to do a WeBs count at Branton Pits near Powburn. How different the weather is only a few miles west of home! 4 inches of snow covered everything and open water was all frozen. So, before leaving the car...


...time to fit in a winter warmer.

Very little wildfowl to count on the ponds with 8 Russian Whitefronts being the highlight.


So, we headed back up to an arctic Corby Crags where the air was filled by an exuberant male Crossbill, warbling a canary-like song high in a larch. Another 4+ were feeding with him on the small cones. Maybe the sun had opened them slightly to assist those crossed mandibles. On the moor, 2 Red Grouse stood out against the white.



...and thats about it really, home again for lunchtime.

2 comments:

Tim Sexton said...

Delightful.

Warren Baker said...

Mince pies before lunch, tch, tch, tch.... No sign of winter here stewart, just dullness..