Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Winter's Tale...

Through the night the temperature at home was -4 rising to -2 at daybreak, but scarcely moving above zero all day. Yesterday's snow froze into a crunchy hard icing over the landscape. Below is a trip with me on my circular walk of about a mile and a half from home...



Just about the only noteworthy thing on an eerily quiet day was a hard weather movement along the coast, with the following all going south -

Meadow Pipit 90
Skylark 136
Redwing 6
Grey Wagtail 1
Pink footed Goose 90+

On the walk through the Village wood and back by the Heugh were 9 Snipe (3 and 6) dropping into the running streams, 2+ Song Thrush, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Buzzard, 5 Siskin, 12 Grey Partridge, 1 male Stonechat and 5 Lapwings.

I couldn't even rumour a grey Gyr let alone a white one...

8 comments:

Warren Baker said...

spectacular lanscape there Stewart

Wilma said...

Warren is right, Stewart. The scenes you photographed are "picture perfect". I love the blue sky with the white snow.

Unknown said...

Top shots of the buzzard Stew. Love seeing raptors underlit by snow. All the best to you and Jane for Christmas.

Anonymous said...

An cracking set of photos, Stewart.
As for the skylarks, there`s been a big movement of em over the last few days. 400+ reported past Spurn, yesterday.

Emma Anderson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Emma Anderson said...

Lovely winter pictures, Stuart. just catching up after a break. Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Cor looks bloomin' cold (but very beautiful)I'm surprised you saw anything !

Stewart said...

Aye it will be a few degrees cooler than StIves I imagine :) I remember being down there one winter and eating outside at the restaurant on the harbour front in positively spring like conditions.