December is here and what better way to bring in the winter than to see what wonderful wildlife has been spotted out on the reserve. As the days have drawn in and freezing conditions have arrived, we have watched Brockholes transform into a perfect winter wonderland.
December Delights!
Leslie Price
Bringing the first frost and snow of the year, December has seen temperatures plummet. Despite the freezing conditions present on the reserve, the wildlife at Brockholes continues to impress!
Starting us off we have the Christmas classic... a Robin! There have been plenty of Robin sightings around the reserve. However, these little, red-breasted birds are not quite as innocent as they look on our Christmas cards...
Kath Waterston
Robins are incredibly territorial, with around 10 per cent killed each year in fights. When the temperature drops, they become even less tolerant of interlopers.
Trevor James Southward
A female Kestrel was captured perched on a branch basking in the low light of Winter. This delightful image displays the beautiful colours present in the kestrels intricate plumage and their unbelievable acrobatic ability.
Leslie Price
Three roe deer were spotted exploring the frosted landscape near Meadow Lake. They often say that three's a crowd, however we think these three look like the perfect bunch! Roe deer are regularly observed across the reserve, although this does little to diminish the delight experienced when you catch sight of one of these magnificent creatures in person.
Pat Aitchison
Constellations of starlings have been seen soaring above the reserve this December. During winter, our starling populations are strengthened by arrivals from overseas. Sticking together for safety, their hypnotic murmuration’s are one of our favourite spectacles, and numbers continue to build at Brockholes. Have you viewed this natural sensation in person? If not, why not plan a visit to Brockholes at dusk?
Ged Gill
Two mute swans were viewed poised in a beautifully sculptured way on a frozen Meadow Lake. Like a scene from Swan Lake Ged was treated to a majestic performance on his latest visit to the reserve.
Leslie Price
Finally, Leslie captured this amazing image of an imposing buzzard, whilst exploring the reserve in the early morning light. This mightly impressive shot illustartes the powerful structure of this magnificent bird of prey. Usually observed soaring high in the sky above Brockholes, this close up shot offers a completely different perspective.
No matter the weather, the wildlife at Brockholes is always spectacular. Please share with us any recent sightings you have spotted, as we would love to see them!