Images and reflections

The surface of Catcleugh Reservoir reflected the beauty of the surrounding hills and the serenity of the Whooper Swans, as the hills themselves reflected the eerie calls of these winter visitors from the north. The air was icy but absolutely still; a sublime start to a day in the Cheviot valleys. Buzzards perched on fence posts or beat their wings furiously trying to find those elusive thermals, Kestrels hovered above the heather, Green Woodpeckers yaffled indignantly as we passed through their plantation, Great-spotted Woodpeckers jumped from branch to branch before scaling the heights of the tree trunks, Goldcrests and Coal Tits flitted restlessly among the bare branches, Red Grouse engaged in vigorous pursuit from one side of the valley to the other, Dipper and Grey Wagtail raced along the streams and a Brown Hare sat, unmoved by our presence, in a field that was also hosting a Grey Heron. The pink, orange, yellow, red and grey of the sunset framed the sudden appearance of Jupiter and Venus and dark descended. End of November? Limited daylight? It has a magic all of its own.