A mixed bag of weather at Rye Meads and Audley End..

Came up to Essex on Friday in glorious sunshine and had a visit to Rye Meads.

Birds are coming back to the water at the Draper Hide following the work that has been going in there and a nice variety there today.

A pair of Gadwall were ensuring the continuation of their species...

and afterwards, a wash and brush up ...

A fish in one of the dipping ponds..

Now today, Saturday, the weather was altogether different.  Arrived at Audley End, as the sky got black.

As the sky was getting even blacker by now, I decided to have a coffee.... as I reached the cafe the thunder rolled and it poured down!!

finally got back to the car and decided, after a wait for some minutes, that it wasn't going to stop!!

Needless to say, after having left the clouds parted and the sun came out so I decided to head of for Hatfield Forest.  And a very pleasant walk it was too....

and tomorrow... something musical :)