High Water

Kent Estuary, Cumbria

This was taken at high water, before the tide began to ebb. The water has become calm and reflective. Within a few minutes, the wind rose and ruffled the water surface, then the ebb began. Happy timing that my visit coincided with high tide and a clearance in the clouds.

Two weeks ago the estuary here was covered from one side to the other with a jumble of ice, see link.

There used to be a railway line along here which crossed the River Bela on a viaduct. When the line was discontinued, the viaduct was demolished. Perhaps most of the sandstone was taken away and reused, but I noticed today that a lot of the distinctive old red stone has been used to help defend the embankment from erosion.

New birds today: pied wagtail, Canada goose, pink-footed goose and goosander. Total for 2011: 72 species (all seen so far within five miles of home).