New year at Thrupp Lake

My first visit to Radley Lakes this year!

Too muddy and flooded to walk all the way round. By the time I arrived late afternoon the light wasn't very good - there again, it hasn't been good all day - but I had great fun trying out my new telephoto lens. (Yes -I've been very lucky this Christmas: I was expecting the fixed length pancake lens, but not a telephoto as well.)

This cygnet, with his mum nearby, was one of the few birds on the lake so I also tested out my lens on some bull rushes that were waving madly in the wind.

I have blipped Radley Lakes many times before. This was taken at Thrupp Lake, the larger of the two reclaimed gravel pits that are now looked after by the Earth Trust.