The snow has gone, cleared by the brief thaw. Temperatures are falling again but today (at least) there was a little sunshine and a chance to head out to the Downs. The thin winter sun was perfect, casting almost unreal colour across the landscape.
There were relatively few of the smaller birds around, though I did glimpse a robin. 
Usually the large field flocks are pigeons, but today the corvids were dominant, with crows, rooks and jackdaws all greedily seeking what they could find in the churned fields.
But this being winter on the Downs, flocks of sheep are the main source of animal life, and by the look of some of them they are already carrying early lambs.
There was one genuine surprise. I'd headed to an area where the buzzards are often active. They weren't around, but a distinctive shape in a distant filed caught my eye. Unless I am very much mistaken, this is a hare. Which makes a first for me. Apologies for the dreadful quality of the photos. The light was fading and I was a long way off with no means of getting closer.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
SittingFox
6 Dec 2010That's definitely a hare – congratulations! :yes: I've never seen one in either the North Downs or the South Downs.
As for the rest: you have visible grass. To me, that is almost as remarkable as a hare :eyes:
gdare
6 Dec 2010Anyway, hare would probably won`t let you come too close 😀
Flying Red Fox Blog
6 Dec 2010Very nice, i took some sunset photos today, its cold outside again but i think the latest place suffering is Scotland.
Can you believe Gatwick closed for 4 days from the snow :yikes:
Words
7 Dec 2010Mark, yes Scotland is certainly getting it bad. Some roads are completely shut and they are using thermal imaging from the air to see if anyone is trapped in cars :yikes:
There's still snow around Gatwick!
Words
7 Dec 2010Darko, you're probably right, though I suspect I could have got 200 metres closer before it even noticed I was in the area. It was a long way off!
Words
7 Dec 2010Adele, thanks. I could barely see it, just a 'wrong colour' in the distance even through the 400mm lens. And yes, the thaw was thorough down by the coast. And rapid!
Words
7 Dec 2010Erwin, thanks!
serola
8 Dec 2010Strange how completely all that snow has melt away :eyes:
Words
8 Dec 2010Sami, yes literally overnight. It's the fastest thaw I've ever seen here.
serola
9 Dec 2010By the way, the first photo is just great :wizard:
Words
9 Dec 2010Sami, thanks. I love the winter light. It does very strange things to the colours.
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Lovely