Audley End House and Green Woodpeckers

The snow, for the time being, has abated.  Woke to a clear but freezing cold day - literally.  Stepping outside the front door, what looked like a wet driveway was, in fact, ice!!  So very very carefully, drove off.

Went over to Audley End House and Gardens.  It was very picturesque in the sunshine.... something that's been a very scare commodity over the last few weeks... the was actually some warmth in the sun.. wonderful :D

Down on the lake a solitary Mute Swan.. normally there's a Black swan as well but no sign of it there today.

 A few Jackdaws strutted their stuff

A Mallard dived..

Eventually I found the Black Swan by itself finding grass to eat amongst gaps in the remaining snow.

Back by the lake, a myriad of avian foodsteps..

Lunch was Tomato Soup which was quite pleasant.

As I went back to the car, I noticed two Green Woodpeckers fly off.  I stood and waited for a bit and was rewarded with the sight of them when they returned.. bring a friend so now we have three to watch..

 

A rewarding end to the day...... :)

Snowed in..

Don't like snow for the disruption it causes to everyday activities.  I do like looking at it though - in pictures.

Snowed for about 12 hours yesterday and today it has finally stopped - we've even had a brief showing of the sun!!

Just a wander to find food..

 Outside a well-know super market; the horse is fairly significant at the moment!!

Snow and a concert!

Plan A - leave early for Hyde Park - (we left at 6.00 a.m.... Mad or what :D)... find Bearded Tits and also Tawney Owl before going to Wigmore Hall for a Sunday concert.

Well.... left in the dark - it was snowing. The roads weren't too bad but I was driving carefully!

Arrived in London and headed straight into Pret's for brekkie... lovely hot porridge with honey and a much appreciated cuppa....:D

Then into Hyde Park... it was desolate.. driving snow at right angles.  We found the two Beardies very easily at the top of the reeds.  The snow was driving straight at us so no cameras used.. they stayed warm in the bags!

Were going to look for the Tawny Owls... but by now it was difficult to stay upright on slippery surfaces and it was exceedingly cold - despite all the layers we were wearing!.. so off we went for another cuppa to defrost!  We did spot a lone Blue Tit in a tree in Oxford Street... hope it found something to eat!!

Onto Wigmore Hall and surprisingly almost all the seats were occupied.

Today it was the Carducci String Quartet - and they played

Haydn - String Quartet in G minor Op. 74 No. 3 'Rider' - thoroughly enjoyable

Debussy Stgring Quartet in G minor Op. 10 - enjoyed it but not as much as Haydn.

First time we'd heard the Carducci... but they didn't quite meet the Nash Quartet excitement for me.

and not a single picture taken today :(

Hatfield Forest... snowy and dull...

Up with Pete for a musical weekend...

This morning had a brief trip around Rye Meads - soooo quiet but most of the water was frozen.

And this afternoon we headed off to Hatfield for some exercise... snow's not too bad but the day was grey and lacked light... more snow on it's way.

Believe it or not these pics are all in colour!!

And this is the lake in Hatfield Forest!!