A High Pressure System

…means low clouds here. This could be a nice view of the mountains, but they are well hidden. Even this low hill is struggling to be seen. The patch of golden gorse caught my eye. Just over the way, between the bright green and the dark hills is the mighty Waimakariri River in its deep gorge.

Later in the day we had thin sunshine, and I was amazed at the difference it made for the birds. For the last few gloomy days only the sparrows have been rowdy and I wondered what had happened to the others. It appears they were waiting for the sun. The chaffinch has been particularly loud, but I have also heard the blackbird, dunnock, skylark, starlings, yellowhammer and waxeye. There has been a continual chorus.