Rain droplets and ripples

Helena excitedly said that there was a 'mackerel' sky when she drew the curtains this morning. We discovered the term through a couple of books about clouds, and in particular Gavin Pretor-Pinny's wonderful 'Cloud Spotter's Guide' which I must read again, as I know I've forgotten so much of it!

By the time I arose, the sun's rays were beginning to cross the valley and raise the temperature on the partly frozen ground. I watched steam rising from a bramble bush beside the holloway on the hill opposite, looking much like a hot mound of compost or dung does when steaming away in cold air. This effect only lasted a couple of minutes before the temperature melted the frost on the ground and the bush itself, while the mist in the air receded down towards the valley bottom and away.

The rest of the day wasn't so good and by the time I had gone shopping it was raining again. When I returned home I took a cup of tea out into our garden cabin with my camera all set up to watch the birds feeding close by. A nuthatch, some goldfinches and long-tailed tits did pass by, but I didn't get any good shots. As I left to return indoors to prepare for my council meeting tonight the rain hardened and I spotted some droplets and their ripples in the watering trough for the birds. I was rather pleased to see the round droplet of water was recorded.