Friday 9 January 2009

New Hythe

It was one of those nights and mornings that hits our wildlife hard. Just about everything is covered in a layer of ice, making it difficult for foraging birds to find food and try to stay warm. Just on the off chance that a hungry water vole might make an appearance I decided to spend a couple of hours at New Hythe but the water voles were obviously tucked up in a cosy nest hole somewhere (hopefully) as they were not around. Still a few hardy goldcrests, tits and siskins were attempting to find some food as the sun arose higher in the sky and finally started to thaw the ice.

Certainly this morning song thrushes seemed to be more confiding and this individual was trying to warm up and catch a few rays. It had fluffed its feathers up so much it looked as though it had swallowed a tennis ball, one of my favourite thrushes though.

This male shovelers is now well out of his eclipse plumage and looks very handsome.
As the sun was still rising the frost and ice still covered most of the undergrowth and shaded areas. The reedbed where sometimes a bittern lurks looked suitably frosty.

Old dead seed heads were coated in a layer of ice which sparkled in the weak sunlight.

And close up looked like a frosting of small diamonds.




Rabbits on ice is not something that I see very often but this beastie was finding some tasty morsals along the frozen banks of the ditch.


7 comments:

Warren Baker said...

N-ice, pics John. The Goldcrests do seem to be getting tamer by the day, as they just ignore everything, and keep feeding.

Tony Morris said...

Good to see you're back, I've been missing your posts. Like the bunny on ice!

Greenie said...

John .
Steve and I were not lucky with the Water Voles either when we met last visit .
Just read and enjoyed Rabbit Tales 5/6 . My daughter and her partner ran a backpackers at Kiakura , then moved to Rotorua and ran one named 'Cactus Jacks'- didn't stay there by any chance ?

Cheryl said...

The weather at the moment is hard for wildlife....I have been out this week and bought lots more suet balls....currants....etc etc......water of course is another need.....

I love the photograph of the song thrush.....I have a pair at the moment......they are stunning birds....

I have also had lapwings flying over the house.......a flock of around 50 I reckon....I am determined to get a photograph......
Love the ice shots.....

Simon said...

Fantastic photos John, good to see you posting again!

Steve said...

Great to see you back John....is this time off for good behaviour?? Great pics as always

Stewart said...

Lovely photo's John, all very evocative....