Alder and reed beds at Leighton Moss

The reed bed at Leighton Moss. 7 March 2016

The marsh harrier flew over the reed beds,  feathery seed-heads illuminated by the sun, their gold mirrored in the bright blue water.  That was the effect I wanted to show:  the reed-beds shimmering in sunlight.  Sunlit seeds drifting in the air.  Dark bulrush bursting into whiteness.   A heron stood still and stately.  A pair of pintails floated on the water,  their heads buried in their feathers- only an eye visible.  The male birds distinctive in gorgeous breeding plumage, the females less colourful but with intricate patterning.  A little group of shoveler surrounded the pintail, all heads hidden.

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Pintail and Shoveler

 I hadn’t expected the alder catkins to be so advanced so early in the season.   In the tree tops they were colourful and bright.  In younger, smaller trees the purple buds were still tight closed.
Snow on distant fells. And snow next morning.

Alder catkins and bulrush