Frosty morning on the river - swans, duck and sunlight!
This morning was frosty again (perhaps -3C) but at least it was light, in a pale, icy way, and the birds were happier. I stopped by the river on my cycle ride to work and caught the icy light glinting on the frosty fields and on a pair of dignified swans determinedly paddling upstream against the current. Strong birds!
There was also a green-headed duck making for the bank where the withered foliage lay in gold heaps like a harvest. Magical in its simple way.
Here is the sunlight on the frosty fields, with the two swans just coming into view.
Here's a crop of the same view which I thought would look interesting as a tapestry (something to do with those muted colours!):
I'm on the bridge waiting for the swans to come a bit nearer:
They are taking their time as the current is strong and against them (and they don't care if I get to work on time or not ha ha). In this next photo, you can see the "beat" motion of their leg movements reflected in the ripples:
And, finally, here is one of them close to:
By this time, the sunlight has a definite yellow tinge (less icy looking), so everything looks brighter round this drake as he heads for the bank and the shallow getting-out patch of short-legged-duck-friendly mud:
After that, I got to sit at my computer all day, whilst duck and swan life no doubt went on serenely in the sunshine! Hope you enjoyed the photos.
There was also a green-headed duck making for the bank where the withered foliage lay in gold heaps like a harvest. Magical in its simple way.
Here is the sunlight on the frosty fields, with the two swans just coming into view.
Here's a crop of the same view which I thought would look interesting as a tapestry (something to do with those muted colours!):
I'm on the bridge waiting for the swans to come a bit nearer:
They are taking their time as the current is strong and against them (and they don't care if I get to work on time or not ha ha). In this next photo, you can see the "beat" motion of their leg movements reflected in the ripples:
And, finally, here is one of them close to:
By this time, the sunlight has a definite yellow tinge (less icy looking), so everything looks brighter round this drake as he heads for the bank and the shallow getting-out patch of short-legged-duck-friendly mud:
After that, I got to sit at my computer all day, whilst duck and swan life no doubt went on serenely in the sunshine! Hope you enjoyed the photos.