Winter Wonderland

It was a strange day all round. Firstly a new unexpected President of the USA, then the shovelling of snow on the drive at home followed by a pleasant walk from the reserve entrance gate

via the Lake, 

via the Scrapes and Reed Bed, where the weight of the snow flattened them to about 3ft. 

To the snowy blanketed Field Centre. 

Thankfully the weather did not affect the Owl Pellet event held at the reserve by Glennis, and some folk actually made it in. Usually this event is for children but the adults have enjoyed it so much that we made this event an “Adults Only”.

While the snow kept falling during the morning we were able to get a few inside jobs completed before going outside to cut back some heavily laden branches over hanging the paths. Here a cross between autumn and winter.

The thaw was well set in as we made our way around the reserve amazed at the transformation.

Signs of wildlife were very noticable, here Squirrel

A mix of birds, mainly Pheasant

All this snowy weather had us thinking of Stacey, our summer Reserve Manager. As I type this she is making her way south to her Antarctic Signy destination to study penguins. 

The ship is the James Clark Ross and its webcam can be found at:

https://www.bas.ac.uk/data/our-data/images/webcams/rrs-james-clark-ross-webcam/

The ships actual location can be found at:
http://www.sailwx.info/shiptrack/shipposition.phtml?call=

It should take about 3 days sailing to then get to Signy. The ship will be there for about 2 days while she opens up the station, and then will leave her and her team. After this you can keep following the ship but she will not be on it.
Once set up there she will get her blog going which is: http://staceyinantarctica.blogspot.co.uk/
But, she will only get time to update it about once a week.

We wish Stacey all the best , and hope to see her back here late Spring.

Thank you to Glennis, and Joan we are thinking of you!