Frosty morning surprise

A very frosty morning with sunshine made for an interesting early St Ives walk today.

There was lots to photograph. Ice on the small ponds; frost on the golf course, snow on the hills beyond the Aire Valley and mist in the valley bottom were all possible blips before we even reached Coppice Pond.

Passing the club house the sun and tree shadows had made the frost in to stripes. At the pond our first sighting was the baby coots perched on a log whilst mum brought them food. (Wilsden Walker posted a great close up two days ago - here )
Sadly my shots weren't very good.
D, my neighbour and myself stopped at the feeding station as usual to feed the ducks, geese and swan.

Picking up the last of the bird pellets that had landed on the deck I spotted a lone female duck at the side of the pond and through them to her. I then realised she was protecting three ducklings. The first I have seen on the pond. All the other walkers had headed off to start the day elsewhere so they missed them. Mum was being very vigilant (extra) thank fully as the Greylag came bursting through to get his share of the morning fare. Hope she can keep them safe.