Tree of gold

I caught a brief snatch of early morning sun on my walk round Ferry Meadows, but it was rapidly swallowed up by the deep grey clouds behind this gloriously golden poplar tree. The declining light levels meant that not many photographs were taken, but it was good to stretch my legs and also to see a whole host of spring migrants - plenty of common terns, swallows, sand martins and house martins, as well as a couple of whitethroats and a single willow warbler. Although the temperatures may be plummeting, clearly the natural world believes it's time for spring to really get underway.