Reflected dawn

Another spectacular sunrise, although its been followed by dull grey cloud. I took this image of the sunrise as reflected in one of the vernal ponds on the common. Vernal ponds are temporary pools of water that are usually at their peak depth in the spring (hence the name). They are an important feature of Chailey Commons and are crucial to the very rare fairy shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanous). Unfortunately the fairy shrimps are almsot impossible to photograph in the wild being small, fast moving, translucent and most active at night. Chailey is one of only a handful of sites in England where these tiny crustaceans are known to survive.