April afternoon - spring showers

If I cannot get further afield, on most days I try to get out for fresh air and usually the walk includes the lakes at Carr Vale reserve, just 15 minute's stroll away from the front door.  Yesterday was great for weather watching, which is something I particularly enjoy.  So here are some shots to share how the afternoon developed.

The oil-seed rape seems to be coming into flower early this year.  Just a few weeks ago the snow was on the ground, and otherwise the plants don't seem to have been especially thriving because of the dry weather. However, the usually bright mass of flowers is well on the way now, and they made a good foreground against the sky.  For a long time it was unclear whether or not the clouds really "meant business".  The clouds were very slow moving so it was interesting to see how they were developing and reshaping.  Eventually it did become darker and closer.

Even so, it still looked quite localised, and I wandered the short distance down to the "Meadow Flash" - one of the lakes in the Carr Vale reserve.  This southern lake is in an open setting, hence "meadow", and it is one of a series of lakes caused by industrial activity, hence "flash".  A little curtain of rain developed, but seemed quite insignificant.

However, very quickly, everything intensified.  By the time I had reached the other of the larger lakes there was quite a downpour on the go.  It did not last for long, but was quite impressive.  The next shots give a bit of an impression.

The intensity soon eased, but a gentler rain continued for about 20 minutes.  This period brought the general grey and damp look to the fore on the path by the woods in the adjoining Peter Fidler reserve.  The birch trees are just coming into leaf.

The Peter Fidler reserve has a couple of smaller lakes and pools.  I got a nice shot of birch twigs after the rain, with out of focus reeds in the background.  There was also an attractive insect sheltering on a post which obligingly stayed put for a photo session.

Insect on a post, since identified as alderfly

I also took shots of a hawthorn branch with the lake beyond and a couple of dandelions which brightened up the scene.  Also, one of my favourite  subjects - ripples and patterns on water - this time after a duck had swum across.

By now, things were drying up quite nicely, although the sky was in quite a state of cloudy chaos.  Nothing developed further in the way of showers and the sky gradually calmed.  However there were some great scenes of clouds and blue sky with the sun going in and out.  It was just great to be out and about and I returned home almost dry, thanks to the waterproofs.  The camera had stood up quite well to the rain, so that was another bonus.  Later on, after a very slow build up over the Pennines, seen from home, a larger shower system finally came through after 6.30 pm, but it was decaying a bit and the rain was not as heavy or prolonged as it must have been over the hills.  I hope seeing the selection of pictures captures something of an afternoon of April showers.