Where has the water gone?

This morning I went for a walk with my walking group. It was cold and icy - we had to be careful where to put our feet as the lanes were very slippery in places.

We passed a big pond that was frozen over and watched the mallards skating on the ice and receiving a few biscuits from one of our group. Suddenly this heron walked out from the reeds and stood for a while surveying the ice before retreating to the reeds again. Poor things, this weather must be very difficult for them.