December and the shortest days.

There were a few cold days at the beginning of December with frost still evident at midday.  Apart from that first week, temperatures were very mild until Boxing Day and the forest floor is still green with bramble leaves.  I love walking in a frosted landscape under the low winter sun and those first crisp days were a delight to the eye.  A Robin perching on the fence by the entrance to the sawmill's track completed a classic winter scene.

A Robin perched on the fence at the entrance to the sawmill's track, a classic winter image.

The seasonal visitors to the private pool on the Apedale Road have mostly moved on, though a couple of the Canada Geese seem to have decided to stay.  I was lucky enough to get closer than usual to the Moorhens on this pool, allowing reasonable photographs.

Early December - Moorhens on the banks of the Apedale Road private pool, the ground still frozen at midday.

Lichen and small tree fungi often go unnoticed until a splash of light picks them out.  Common Orange Lichen is wonderful to behold, especially in close up.  I didn't notice the small pink and red spots of Red Brain Fungus growing on a nearby tree until I pushed into the hedgerow to get the photo of the lichen.

The complex form of Common Orange Lichen.

Red Brain Fungus growing on a small branch.

I don't think I can remember the forest floor being so green at this time in past years.  I presume it is the mild weather that has persuaded the brambles to stay green.  Some of the leaves are pale and fresh and it is clear that the plants are even putting out new shoots.  It is still not uncommon to see blackberry blossom.

 Though the bracken has died back the forest floor is green with brambles, there is even blossom still to be seen.

A splash of colour, flowering brightly here and there, is the reliable Gorse.  It is never seen in the large masses that blaze their yellows on Peak District hillsides, but individual shrubs do dot Apedale.

Gorse, ever in flower somewhere.

Two of the expected seasonal greens are the Holly and the Ivy.  The Ivy climbs in pillars in the woods and creeps along the drystone walls that are often hidden by sprawling hedgerow plants in warmer times.  Though holly's green is seen often in the hedgerows and woods, there are few berries, except on one tree that I know of.  That tree is a magnificent exception and provides a cheery splash of colour in a landscape that is often a little drab of late.

Left - Ivy.  Right - Berries on one Holly tree, a magnificent splash of colour.  Seen here with rare blue sky as a background.

There are fewer people about in the area since the weather has become colder and the days shorter.  This has given me the chance to watch birds where they would normally vanish every time a person passes by.   In this way I was fortunate enough to see Nuthatches and Great Tits feeding and a Tree Creeper on a nearby tree.  Though there were no humans to disturb the birds, a squirrel was making its presence felt.  The birds waited a metre or so distant rather than flying away, so I could still see them.  Contrary to popular belief (tree) squirrels do not hibernate so the birds will have to endure the nuisance all winter.

A charming little Nuthatch in Watermill's Wood.

Though the days are still short, it is comforting to know that they are now steadily growing longer, the distinctive scenery is adequate compensation for freezing temperatures for me.