Winter Sunshine
08th December 2014
Winter Sunshine
I have just spent a very enjoyable day crossing the southern hills of Duddon and Coniston. It was enjoyable, even though the weather was extremely wintery and the snow covered mountains were blasted by powerful winds. The strength of these winds created painfull, numbing chill, but the drama of the fast moving clouds, across the intense blue skies, and a scene snow capped mountains made it worth the chillful pain.
Though the conditions were wintery I encountered a surprising variety of wildlife. There was flocks of Fieldfare feeding from the berries of Hawthorn, rising and descending in unison from tree to tree. There was the improbable sighting of a Lapland Bunting. If my identification was correct then this was a rare and very special encounter as it this little bird would be one of a few passing through the UK. I also heard, lost in the cold and pristine blue, the sorrowful and plaintive cry of the Buzzard as it circled somewhere high above the mountain summits. Then further in the woods, Elven like, I heard the light tinkling song of Treecreepers as they searched for food amongst bare Larch Trees.
Today the wind cut through to the blood, and often in a futile attempt to revive some life and add heat, I nursed my hands under my armpits. As the body heat slowly reached my numb fingers the pain became almost unbearable. It was not a day to linger, but one to keep moving and take in as much stimulus as quick as possible.
However, despite the cold, the day was filled with a pale orange glow from a winter sun. The warmth was weak, but welcome. The shadows were long due to to the Suns low height in the sky. The conditions of wild weather, soft glow and tepid heat from the sun created a palpable sense of being immersed in a wild landscape. A landscape made more real by the very challenging conditions I was experiencing, conditions making my senses more alert, sensitive and ready.
I have just spent a very enjoyable day crossing the southern hills of Duddon and Coniston. It was enjoyable, even though the weather was extremely wintery and the snow covered mountains were blasted by powerful winds. The strength of these winds created painfull, numbing chill, but the drama of the fast moving clouds, across the intense blue skies, and a scene snow capped mountains made it worth the chillful pain.
Though the conditions were wintery I encountered a surprising variety of wildlife. There was flocks of Fieldfare feeding from the berries of Hawthorn, rising and descending in unison from tree to tree. There was the improbable sighting of a Lapland Bunting. If my identification was correct then this was a rare and very special encounter as it this little bird would be one of a few passing through the UK. I also heard, lost in the cold and pristine blue, the sorrowful and plaintive cry of the Buzzard as it circled somewhere high above the mountain summits. Then further in the woods, Elven like, I heard the light tinkling song of Treecreepers as they searched for food amongst bare Larch Trees.
Today the wind cut through to the blood, and often in a futile attempt to revive some life and add heat, I nursed my hands under my armpits. As the body heat slowly reached my numb fingers the pain became almost unbearable. It was not a day to linger, but one to keep moving and take in as much stimulus as quick as possible.
However, despite the cold, the day was filled with a pale orange glow from a winter sun. The warmth was weak, but welcome. The shadows were long due to to the Suns low height in the sky. The conditions of wild weather, soft glow and tepid heat from the sun created a palpable sense of being immersed in a wild landscape. A landscape made more real by the very challenging conditions I was experiencing, conditions making my senses more alert, sensitive and ready.