The Lone Cygnet

Amongst Talkin Tarn's 'residents' is a pair of swans. Every year they produce a new 'brood' and it is always a delight to watch them as they bring up their youngsters.

Most years, the pair have done well but last year, sadly, only one signet survived.

Here is the cygnet, photographed close to the edge of the Tarn where it had been taking food from passers-by. Notice the mixture of grey and white feathers as it had still to reach maturity. When it did so, however, it was obliged to 'fly the nest', leaving the parents to concentrate on the next season's brood.

The good news is that this year they have hatched 6 cygnets and so far all 6 are doing well.

They grow incredibly fast and I have been taking pictures of them since they first appeared on the Tarn with their parents. Watch out for the series of photos coming next .....

Winter Ice To Spring Sunshine - Life On A Lake

It's been a busy year so far ... so little time for blogging! All is not lost, however, because I have been snapping photos all year long so in sharing them with you, they will be the 'stories' for many of the posts in 2010.

My last post back in February was about a small lake close to where I live. It offers the perfect opportunity to monitor nature and the seasons and here are two wonderfully contrasting photos that show just how different it can be .....

Photo 1 - Sunset Over Frozen Lake
There were some wonderful pink and golden skies tinged with hues of blue. The ice and snow on the ground formed the perfect contrast and a wonderful, wintery atmosphere.

Photo 2 - Spring 'Babes'

One of the numerous 'duck families' that emerge each Spring. Young ducklings, guarded by their ever-protective mother, learn what life in a lake is all about. The warmth of the sunshine clearly encourages new life and the lake becomes 'alive' again.

Proud Parents

Amongst Talkin Tarn's 'residents' is a pair of swans. Every year they produce a new 'brood' but this last year only one cygnet survived. Swans are naturally protective of their young, but this year the parents have more cause than usual with just the one youngster left to protect. The parents are never very far from their offspring but the cob (father) seems to spend most of his time with his feathers fluffed up and wings semi-arched as he swims ahead and monitors for would-be predators. If he sees another swan (and there have been several that 'drop in' to the Tarn on a regular basis) he picks up speed and swims very aggressively in their direction. I've seen this happen countless times in recent months and it's truly admirable how hard the pair work to protect the one cygnet they have left. Here is a short video clip I took where you the cob's pace visibly picks up ... the pen (mother) and cygnet following a short distance behind.

The Changing Seasons

Cumbria is a county in which the change of seasons is readily noticeable. Take the change from autumn to winter for example. Talkin Tarn is a small lake near the town of Brampton and is a favourite spot for locals to go walking. The woods surrounding the tarn as well as the tarn itself provide a wonderful haven for wildlife - from swans, ducks and geese to red squirrels and many other animals.

In autumn, the place is awash with colour. Here is a video clip I took in November ....

In winter, however, it can be quite different. When the first heavy snow arrived just before Christmas 2009, we had no idea that it would stay for 3 weeks along with freezing temperatures both day and night. During that time Talkin Tarn became a different place; the lake froze leaving only one small patch of water in the middle. The sounds around the place changed too - the usual noise of birds swimming and splash landing in the water disappeared and on the days when the sun hid behind heavy snow-laden clouds, it was a distinctly black and white scene. Here is a video clip I took on one such day - quite different from the one in November!

A Lake Sunset

Autumnal sunset over Talkin Tarn in Cumbria.

More Of Talkin Tarn

These golden leaves were astonishing to see in real life. Their richness of colour made a truly golden carpet to walk upon!

If you visit Talkin Tarn you won't be far from Hadrian's Wall. Just a few miles away there are some stunning walks to enjoy on the Wall.

Autumnal Scenes In Cumbria

The autumn is a special time in most places but in Cumbria it is particularly special. The colours enrich the landscape and despite the cold (and the rain more often than not!), a walk in the countryside can be very invigorating.

Here are some photographs of Talkin Tarn in the autumn ....