First ShootsFirst Shoots
FROST ON THE POND, and in the mountain bike tracks on the muddy paths, but the low winter sun has warmth when you're out of the cold north westerly. The sky is a pure blue, the air so clear you can see the wind turbines on the moor tops.
The wind ruffles the river into alternate rippled and calm stripes, parallel to the steep banks - interference patterns perhaps? Does wind have a wavelength?
The luminosity of colour on Silver Birches against clear blue sky reminds me of the first Kodachromes I saw, projected on our kitchen wall, back in the 60s. The low sun acts as a spotlight, the Robin's orange-red breast is, for once, as brilliant as often imagined. Its large dark eyes have an alert sparkle.
Pussy willow buds are in white fur, Dog's Mercury is sprouting under thorns, Wild Garlic (Ransoms) by the stream.
A Grey Wagtail patrols the debris-strewn silt island revealed by the ebbing river, while a Pied shelters from the cold wind on the sunny side of a steep dormer bungalow roof.
Richard Bell,
wildlife illustrator
E-mail;'richard@daelnet.co.uk'
