Monday 21 December 2009

Winter Wonderland

I walked my usual Monday route along the Water of Leith today. I've never before done the walk in ankle deep snow! It was very beautiful and peaceful and the sky changed from grey to white (and snowing!) to wonderful soft blues with gentle clouds. When I stopped to take this second photo I was surrounded by birds, though I don't know if you can see them in the photo. Long tailed tits bouncing in the branches with great tits and blue tits, blackbirds feeding on the berries, a wren rushing from one snowy patch of grass to another and a treecreeper foraging in the lower part of a tree trunk. Not far from here there were three bullfinches feeding in the branches (the male's red chest looking particularly bright against the white branches (and several redwings. In the river a heron was wading while a male goosander dived for food.

19 comments:

Golden West said...

And just in time for a white Christmas!

Michael said...

The birds are very active here too. The snow makes everything look and sound different.

Deb G said...

I can imagine how beautiful of a walk that must have been!

steven said...

that first photo reminds me of a similar walk i talk on my last christmas in england in north yorkshire. it's always been the embodiment of the romance of christmas for me. steven

Caroline Gill said...

Beautiful wonderlands, Juliet. It's icy here, too.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely photograph Juliet. Yes there are plenty of birds about in the snow - it must be a desperate job to keep alive in this cold. I have replenished our bird table three times today - the last time with chopped up remains of a yorkshire pudding - the blackbirds (eight and counting) gobbled it up.

Titus said...

Beautiful! We saw a heron on our walk this morning, and when they take off they so remind me of pterdactyls (well, not remind me, obviously, as I never saw one, but you know what I mean). I love the silence snow brings.

Titus said...

Or even pteradactyls.

Ann (bunnygirl) said...

Beautiful snow! Yay for you!

Dianne said...

Wonderland, snow and birds always amaze me. We usually just see big black ravens in the Sierra Nevada of California when it snows. The contrast is amazing.

Anonymous said...

First of all, I love your new header shot.

Sometimes, a simple walk turns into something almost magical. I think you described a time like that.

SzélsőFa said...

hmm, I do love the photo up in the banner (footprints in the snow).
have a merry christmas, full of birds' sighting :)))

Bill said...

Best of the season and beyond to you, Juliet.

Unknown said...

Doesn't the snow make everything look sparkly and pristine? Hope it doesn't melt before Friday so you can have a white Christmas.

Larry Kollar said...

Lovely… I wish we'd get a little snow this week, but maybe better luck next year.

RG said...

Could stay by that river scene for quite awhile!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a nice place ... Thanks for sharing.

Love.

Kat Mortensen said...

My best wishes to you and your family for a very Happy Christmas!

Kat

Cathy said...

What a wonderful selection of birds you have there Juliet. We have been having lots on our tables and feeders since the snowy weather started a week ago. I wish we had tree creepers too. I love them.