More snow!

We were forecast to have a bit more snow yesterday - not much more, just another inch or so really. This time the forecasters underplayed it a bit - it snowed ALL day - from before we got up to about 9pm, and another 3 - 4" has fallen. As we had nothing else planned for the day, and we usually like to get out for a walk on a Sunday when that is the case, we bundled up in coats, hats, gloves and scarves (and TWO fleeces, in my case, I do hate being cold!) and set off to Amwell Nature reserve just over the boundary into Hertfordshire.

The roads weren't great, to be honest - nowhere seemed to have been gritted - even the main A414 was down to one lane along quite a bit of the stretch we travelled on. The lane going along to the reserve was a bit hairy too, although the only real problem I encountered was when searching for somewhere to turn the car round to park up. A bit of sideways action though and we were sorted out.

Rather than the actual reserve itself we decided to walk along the towpath towards Ware - always a favourite walk of mine anyway, and I thought it would be interesting to see the familiar route in these new, softened, clothes. The canal boats were looking cosy moored against the bank, several with their wood-burners going ...

...and it's always fascinating to see the way plants and trees catch the falling snow and look totally different to normal - this Old Man's Beard for example, looking rather more "Beardy" than usual...

...and the Teasles, too...

We decided to call in at one of the hides as we were passing - this one is a favourite of mine as there are feeders hanging right outside and it's a good chance to see some of our native birds up really close. I've often spent an afternoon there with the camera in the past, and got some lovely shots. In spite of only having the little compact with me I still managed to get a couple of shots thanks to a helpful Robin posing for me...

And look! A feeder-bucket FULL of Long Tailed Tits! Aren't they gorgeous!

And so we plodded onwards along the path. Very cold indeed (the car was registering -1 on the main road in the way there we noticed) but we were plenty warm enough with all our winter layers on, and the snow crunching underfoot as we walked. We were hoping that the boat-cafe might have been moored somewhere along the canal but sadly not, so no tea & cake for us - we could have continued on into Ware to find a cafe there but by the time we got to the outskirts the snow was falling pretty heavily so we turned tail and headed back along....

Just before we got back to the track out these cheery fellows came and said hello...

They are Konik Ponies - usually to be found grazing in the meadows at RSPB Rye Meads but currently housed at Amwell as the ground is too wet for them at Rye. They are apparently bred to bring back the Tarpan - a wild horse which was hunted to extinction over here some 130 years ago. They're friendly chaps as you can see...

What did you do with your Sunday? Did it involve any snow, or a walk, come to that?

Robyn