A Cold Frosty Day

The lake had ice covering part of it, but the still day gave beautiful reflections of the now leafless trees.

Frost coated the reeds in the reed bed and for once there was no sound other than the cheeping of birds, possibly Reed Buntings, who spend the night low down in the reeds where they are safe and warm.  These birds can be seen in the back garden and feeding from the feeder outside the kitchen.

Although there are few flowers out now, there are many different seed heads to be seen around the reserve.  Goldfinch enjoy the seeds from the Teasels.

Frost had 'grown' on the lichen, a plant made up from a symbiotic relationship between an alga and a fungus.  The alga provides the food and the fungus the structure.

These are very tough plants that can survive a journey into space and upon return to Earth continue to grow.

And finally we send best wishes to all Scots associated with Foxglove, as they raise a glass to their Patron Saint , St Andrew, who is celebrated today.