Certainly during the summer the purple/pink flowers of Purple Loosetrife were a haven of nectar for various insects. I'm not sure whether there is any benefit to birds from seeds of this plant at this time of year, but even if not, the coppery colour certainly added to my enjoyment while walking round the lake.
The bulrushes also added warm colour as well as their distinctive seed heads to the scene.
There is something very photogenic to me about these seed heads, the way the winter light falls on them.
Even these didn't escape the frost! (-:
Every now and then the Black-headed Gulls would get skittish and fly around the lake. I kept looking up for some raptor that might have been the cause, but couldn't find one.
This Black-headed Gull is in it's winter plumage. In summer their head is covered by a chocolate brown hood.
These male Mallards showed up well against the dead Purple Loosetrife, not so the female. If you click to enlarge, she should become more apparent.
There was still a touch of green in the foliage which picked up the green of the male Mallards head. The female continued to do her 'wallflower' act.
These Alder catkins showed up beautifully in the sunshine. Unfortunately they were quite high up and I couldn't get any closer for a more macro look at them.
It was great to get out for an hour with the camera. Hopefully I'll get another opportunity soon! 
11 comments:
Mrs M playing hide and seek maybe! Excellent conditions to capture reflections in the water Jenny.
Well Miss Trog you have done the impossible.
You have turned a dull frozen winter day with the minimum available subjects into something really interesting.
HI Jenny,
I guess it is not easy to get nice subject during this period, although some of the birds might be cold and easier to get pictures off, well we hope!!! Really hard also with the light condition. So you managed quite well! I love the mallards shots a lot as the reflection and colors are gorgeous.
The warm golden glow on the Loosetrife and the lake reflection is very pretty. I clicked to enlarge on the top picture and found the building on the left interesting. What is it used for Jen? Do you know? I love the lush green of summer but there is definitely something simply, starkly beautiful about winter.
...I'm really enjoying your frosty posts. When ice and frosty ice crystals coat a seed pod, or grass stalk, you can't help but see the beauty. You've done a wonderful job capturing that feel and the beauty (and magic transformation!).
Truely a beautiful walk Jenny. I love the frost, color and catkins.
Great photography and walking notes!
Lovely.
Hi Frank, yes it was a beautiful calm morning which made a change from the recent wind and rain.
Hi Roy, Miss Trog, I like that! (-:
Thanks for those kind words.
Hi Chris, yes, I too liked those Mallard photos. the contrasts of those warm colours and the hard frost everywhere was wonderful.
Hi Pix, yes that building is part of the Mill which is lived in and is just across the River Frome on the edge of the reserve.
Hi Kelly, thanks for that, you're right when you get a hard frost it really makes the structures in nature stand out.
Hi Evie, thanks, it was so great just to get out there with my camera again! (-:
I like the frosty cattails! A lovely walk, and it makes me want to get outside. I didn't get out much today...maybe tomorrow.
Just caught up on your last two posts. I love those crystals forming around the edge of water and grass in the previous post.
Earlier you said you were surprised we don't get frost. Well Most people here do get frost. I'm only a few metres from the sea and that seems to protect us. Just a few miles inland and they get frost as well as snow in the winter as can be seen in this blog post
Hi Mary, I hope you get the weather for getting out and about soon!
Hi Alan, yes, I was facinated with the way the ice formed around those twigs. I think Frank was right and that the B&W photos were better. Ah, I thought Tassie should get frost as I was sure it got snow! (-:
Very pretty photos Jenny they seem to offer a mystical magical feeling.
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