We’ve had really stormy weather over the weekend and there’s more to come later in the week but in
between there’s a brief period of high pressure bringing northerly winds. Naturally that means it’s colder than usual but only just below freezing at night; this morning it was zero degrees when we went out.
Strangely Nutbourne farm is empty, no cars parked there at all. Perhaps it’s too cold for many of the dog walkers; they’re missing out, it’s a wonderful time to be out.
The chilly weather is enough to freeze the surface of puddles and form an icy crust around standing water that looks distinctly Christmassy. The foliage has become white with tiny ice shards that have formed over night whilst anything above ground such as the benches are covered in a think layer of frost.
Out in the harbour the light and clouds are reminiscent of Peter Scotts paintings, skeins of geese and flights of duck complete the picture. There’s plenty of mud keeping the birds well off shore as it’s not far from low tide. From the croaking it’s clear that there are plenty of Brent Geese out there but that’s not all. There are smaller shapes in silhouette that are some form of duck, probably wigeon and mallard; also plenty of unidentified waders flitting about. A cloud of small birds rises, probably Dunlin, does a few aerobatics
then settles down again.
On the way back passing the old orchard there are lines of boughs and other growth on the ground in heaps waiting to be burned. I’ve never been aware of anyone picking fruit here so it’s pleasing to see that the trees are neatly trimmed to prevent them becoming overgrown.