Winter Wonderland!!

Friday 18th December

Todays eagerly waited walk saw Tom and myself getting an early start to head up to Seathwaite, to climb Glaramara, then Allen Crags across Esk Hause and up onto Great End. The forecast was for a clear but very cold day, and it was spot on, leaving home to a full sky of stars, we drove into Borrowdale with great anticipation as there was only a small amount of cloud hugging the tops of the higher fells, but as the sun rose it slowly lifted to leave a nice clear sky. It was -5 when we parked up but no wind meant it was ok, but as we reached the fell tops the wind must have took the wind chill temperature to -15ish, bitterly cold, and not a day for hanging around, but with such clear conditions, and superb views the camera stops where frequent, as you see below.



A cold but clear start from Seathwaite Farm.







Starting the climb up the side of Glaramara, heading for Hind Gill, beside Hind Crag







The rising sun lighting up Grey Knots







An illustration of how cold it was, 2ft long icicles







The view down Borrowdale to Skiddaw bathed in early morning sunshine







A zoomed in photo over Castle Crag to Skiddaw

The very cold looking north face of Great End, with Central Gulley prominent, that we climbed a few winters ago.

Looking across to Great Gable and Pillar from Glaramara summitt.

Skiddaw massif and Belncathra from Glaramara

The Helvellyn ridge from Glaramara

Looking across Allen Crags to Bowfell, Esk Pike and Great End

Zoomed in shot of Skiddaw and Blencathra from Glaramara

Great Gable

Pillar

Skiddaw across Derwent Water

Blencathra

Tom on Glaramara summitt

Me on Glaramara summit

A frozen lincomb Tarn with Great End in the background

A close up shot of Central Gulley, we had a great day climbing the gulley a few winters ago, not enough snow in there yet, climbing pictures below are from a few winters ago when we climbed the gulley.

Bowfell from Allen Crags summitt

Langdale Pikes with Windermere in the background

Tom on Allen Crags summitt

Me on Allen Crags summitt

Zoomed in shot of the Langdale Pikes from Allen Crags

Scafell Pike from Great End summitt plateau

Great Gable from Great End summitt

Mosedale fells from Great End

Scafell Pike from Great End summitt

Me on Great End summitt

The Napes crags on Great Gable

Start of the descent down Grains Gill

A partly frozen waterfall halfway down Grains Gill

An extremely enjoyable walk, on a bitterly cold day, but the superb clarity and extensive views made it all worthwhile.

Goldfinchs Galore!!

A sunny afternoon last weekend meant an escape into the garden to watch the Goldfinchs feeding, as I have mentioned in a previous post they absolutely love Sunflower kernals and i am filling the feeder on a daily basis at the moment, they really scrap with each other to get a peg on the feeder, and with the sun on them it really highlights their beautiful colouring and marking.

My blog is entitled 'Walks and Wildlife' and i have certainly not been out on many walks recently, watch this space as I am planning to be up in the Lakes this week, fingers crossed in the snow and ice that is forecast.....

A selection of Goldfinch snaps from the weekend to follow....

Birchwood Birds

At last some proper winter weather, after 50 days of rain and grotty weather a lovely crisp frosty winter morning, but unfortunately a working day, but took a morning break to visit the nature reserve at work, and the colder weather meant all the local finches and tits were very active, although in my short visit I didnt see anything more interesting, the shadow from the neighbouring office building meant it was difficult to achieve high enough speeds to get really crisp photos, but got some nice shots nonetheless.

Blue Tit on the peanut feeder



Great Tits on the peanuts and fat ball.





Coal Tits on the seed feeders





Goldfinches coming in for the Niger seed feeders





Chaffinch heartily singing in the tree, and one on the bird table roof.





Even by mid morning the over grown field behind the reserve is still white with frost.