Frozen Lake

 The recent few days of snow has now had an effect on the lake and the area around Ferrymoor. Ice on the lake and dampness underfoot along the paths has made walking really treacherous. Probably ideal photography conditions as everything is beginning to sparkle. The wildlife must be struggling to find food. Even though some has been thrown down for them it will never be enough.

Little Egret

 This Little Egret was flying around at Ferrymoor before deciding to land on one of the islands. It is in the same class as Herons, Storks and Ibises. They were at one time is very short supply in the UK but seem to have increased greatly now. One  or two of them can be seen visiting Ferrymoor where they are very welcome. Hopefully we will be sing many more here in 2025

Feeding Station

 The Feeding Station at Ferrymoor is hidden away in a little alcove at the top end of the reserve. The feeder has been made from steel. This is to deter vandals. A small seat has also be place there for visitors to sit and enjoy watching the visiting birds. Also the odd Grey Squirrel that is about. The feeder is filled up with fresh seed most days by a volunteer who is given the seed by local people who pass this on to him.

Blue Tit

This bird was quite close to the feeding station at Ferrymoor. Obviously seeking some food. A bird often found in gardens where they seek out nest boxes put up by the owners. The colourful mix of Blue, White, Yellow and Green make this bird quite attractive. Where this bird was perched the branches appear to have had the bark stripped obviously by visiting Grey Squirrels that have been spotted on the feeder. 
 

Frosty Morning

 A heavy overnight frost made everything sparkle at Ferrymoor. The dead foliage was covered and there were patches of ice in the puddles of water that was laying on the path. The early morning sunlight made everything sparkle. It is nice to get there early before any warmth melts away the best. The heavy rain a few days before that soaked the ground was frozen and hard and crunchy underfoot.

Black Headed Gull

 Many of these birds can be found at Ferrymoor. There is quite a lot of them always flying around. They are probably the first to come after any food that is thrown down. Although they are called Black Headed it is really more of a dark chocolate colour. The juvenile birds do not tend to have a black head it is nearly always white like the rest of its body. There is a small amount of dark feathers in the tail.

In to a New Year

 2025 has now arrived at Ferrymoor. Wind yesterday and Rain overnight. Shooting in to the light with the winter sun low in the sky produced a bit of mood to this picture. Wonder what we will see in January? Will any new or different birds arrive or even visit?  Will the Spring flowers come up and produce some colourful spender of have they been strimmed down never to show again? Will there be lots of new life including chicks and how many will survive? Will the predators leave them alone? Lets hope it is a YES to all those questions.