Winter Aconite

 I found a small clump of this growing in the bushes at Ferrymoor the other day. It is one of the first wildflowers to appear early in the year. I love the bright yellow buds and when they open they are like stars. Hopefully we will see a lot more wildflowers growing down there as we gradually get closer to Spring. 

Heavy Frost

 Getting out early on my last visit to Ferrymoor was well worth it. There had been a heavy frost overnight. As the sun had just come up everything was beginning to sparkle. The grass that was still green and the dead foliage were covered in white powdery ice. It was very atmospheric and helped me obtain some spectacular images. 

Raindrop on Leaf

 A  leaf with a droplet of water hanging on after a fall of rain. It is quite amazing what you can see that really takes your eye on a walk round Ferrymoor. I do love using my macro lens especially when there is not much about of a general matter. It make you look for a special subject to capture even more. After seeing this I spotted many more images to capture my imagination.

Mute Swans and Cygnet

 This pair of Mute Swans and their Cygnet took off from Ferrymoor , had a short fly around and then landed back on the lake. The Cygnet was all that survived from last years brood.  Hopefully if they are left alone we will see some new chicks in the spring. The wing flaps make a very strange loud noise when they are airborne. Because they were flying with the sun behind them the light has been captured through the wings.

Frost on Mosses

 These Mosses growing on top of the wooden railings at Ferrymoor were covered  in Frost on my visit yesterday. Moss also known as Lichens is a hybrid colony of Algae. They tend to grow in many different shapes and forms. In many environmental conditions they can grow on almost any surface. They seem to grow in this particular part of the reserve. May be it is because it is close to the water.

Goldfinch

 This brightly coloured bird was sitting in a Hazel Tree on a recent visit to Ferrymoor. Its red face and yellow wing patch make it stand out among the other finches. The sound is like a twittering and when they are in groups you cannot mistake them even if they are out of sight. They can often be seen at bird tables and their favourite food is teasel.

Bracken in Winter

 Bracken also known as wild ferns. Some of this still about at Ferrymoor. Looking at it close up the patten is quite spectacular. I do love to get out with the macro lens on my camera. It is amazing what life looks like closeup. Not only plants and flowers, but insects also seen by the naked eye look so very different when magnified.