Tag Archives: snow scenes

Wales, weather

A walk on the white side!

Home in time for winter!

Last night was clear and the moon full, making deep moon shadows, but nothing moved.

Hardly any footprints in the virgin snow this morning — all mammals, apart from one hardy fox, are snug in their lairs. One sparrow nips out of his nest in the masonry at the corner of our house to pinch a feather from someone else’s nest in the hedge — minus 5 degrees centigrade in the night and he must be increasing his insulation.

We walk on the hill, looking for redwings and fieldfares.

Not even a starling stirs but there is the drumming of a greater spotted woodpecker from the woods — so early, must be experimenting with the acoustics.

Here are his instruments. The air is clear and crisp. The sheep have been evacuated to somewhere more sheltered and nearer home for the shepherd.

Down our valley nothing moves but the two abandoned cars that we almost slid into yesterday have been rescued with some nifty gritting and have returned home to await a thaw.

Our footsteps creak as we descend for a second cup of coffee.

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Thoughtful, weather

Hottest January Ever!

That’s what we are told and I do believe it, but it hasn’t always felt like it in Wales; we had snow before Christmas and again several times since.

Here are some of this winter’s chilly images from our woodland.

 

Below is a strange phenomenon spotted on the surface of the frozen pond — a winter corn circle! I guess a spot of something organic has polluted the centre of the surface of each, diffusing outwards, lowering the freezing point (like salt on the road) and creating the perfect circles of melting frost.

Is that why it thaws around the margins and island or is that just the temperature differential between the ground and the water? Food for thought.

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Wales, weather

Snowstorm!

At last some proper Welsh snow that creaks and crunches as you walk.

The woodmen finished their tree felling just in time but it will be a while before we get it logged and stacked.

Meanwhile — a walk in the woods:

With company all the way!

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Climate, Hill Farming, Sheep farming

White Wales

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No longer wet and green, where we live is suddenly white and crisp.

Today we went to inspect the moors above our home on the untreated roads.

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There is an amber alert for heavy snow overnight and cautious farmers were driving their sheep to land nearer home.

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Like us they were slithering a bit but seemed pleased to be heading home.

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