Afterglow

After a fairly unproductive day, I felt the need to escape from the computer. The hordes of goldfinches and other small birds had depleted our supply of sunflower seeds, so Pete and I decided to drive out to Vine House Farm to get replacements. The farm shop also produces very good human food, and we bought sacks of onions and potatoes, as well as a massive cauliflower!

We returned home via Baston Fen, where I was hoping we might spot a barn owl. It was definitely brass monkey weather but we braved the shorter of the circular walks, to no avail, though we did spot a distant marsh harrier. The actual sunset was a pretty insipid affair, but over the next half hour the colours intensified. There's something very special about the fens at dusk in winter - the cold wind numbs cheeks and noses, but the sense of space is truly exhilarating.