Silver Birch

I did manage to get out early this morning and it was well worth it. It was our first frosty morning, with the temperature down around zero and just below. Of course, it did mean that I had to scrape the wndscreen, but that has to be put up with.

I missed getting pictures of two swans which flew up the river - I didn't notice them until they were past me. Other birds spotted included a sandpiper, a kingfisher, which stayed on the other side of the river - too far away for a decent picture but that didn't stop me taking a lot! There was also three little grebes, which also stayed on the far side of the river, and an egret. There was also a strange, loud call which I didn't recognise. Fortunately, a proper birdwatcher came along, complete with telescope and notebook, and suggested it might be a water rail, whose call sounds like the squeal of a pig, which described it very well.

The shortage of opportunities for good pictures of birds wasn't too much of a problem as the leaves have turned and the colours in the trees on the slopes of the valley were just brilliant in the low sun and a hint of mist. I really like the way the light picks out the silver birch in my blip for today. It was one of the first pictures I took this morning.

On the way home, I noticed there was still mist in the Tamar Valley, so I did a quick about turn and parked up near a footpath which gives good views and took some shots of the last of the mist as it withdrew up river. Altogether, a good morning's photography.