Local evening stroll, Carr Vale reserve

If I am not away elsewhere, I usually try to get out a bit and more often than not end up doing a round of one or both of the local reserves.  Carr Vale Flash nature reserve was established in a former mining area where a group of small lakes or flashes had formed due to the industrial workings.  They are located in the Doe Lea valley close to the Carr Vale area of town where we live.

These pictures give a flavour of what can be seen on just a short evening stroll in the spring.  Things change almost on a daily basis, and this April the weather changes virtually minute by minute.

Meadow Flash, Carr Vale - after April showers

Evening at Meadow Flash, Carr Vale reserve

 Meadow Flash is in open fields, the others are more secluded and enclosed.  A pair of Great Crested Grebes has taken to the other main lake this year.  Just one of them was out and about this evening.  I do not have the big lenses and equipment necessary for close ups of birds, but did manage to get a silhouette with the unmistakable outline of this elegant and striking bird.

Silhouette, Great Crested Grebe

The smaller middle lake between the other two sometimes comes up well for a picture.  The reeds are just coming to life, and I always like the patterns on water, whether reflections on still water, or abstracts caused by ripples or waves.  This evening the water was calm in this sheltered spot.

Reeds in the middle lake at Carr Vale

Many of the spring flowers are now in full force.  One of my favourites (although with a long flowering season not restricted to spring) is the White Dead Nettle.  To me it seems to be camera friendly, showing up lovely details.  A tiny bug of some sort also features in this evening's shot.

White Dead Nettle

One common flower that seems to have eluded me until this year is Ground Ivy.  I saw it the other day and got a nice picture, and managed to identify it successfully, realising I had somehow missed out on getting to know it before.  It is a lovely little plant, and enticed me into taking another picture of another good patch of what is obviously a widespread plant.

Ground Ivy

As noted in a recent piece, I am very intrigued by lichens but put off by their complexity.  This one, however, is common and quite recognisable, and I managed to identify it through visual comparison without too much trouble.  It's simply called Common Orange Lichen.

Common Orange Lichen

It always seems worthwhile getting out, and there's usually something fresh to see, even on a familiar little walk.  How pleased I am to have become interested in photography - it is literally an eye opener.  I was already interested in places and nature in general, but the combination with photography is focussing things much more for me.  Above all it directs my thoughts in wonder and awe before the Creator God, with evidence of the hand of a master designer at work on every hand.

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.