Down on a Chalford mill pond

Today's beautiful sunlight and clear sky drew me up to Rodborough Common for a wander, with the thought that I might be able to get good pictures of The Horns and the Heavens, the valley behind our home. The sun still traverses low in the sky and would be shining from the south so the chances of warm light were good.

I enjoyed my walk across to the far side of the ridge to look out over the Nailsworth valley and across the Severn Vale, and I was in the company of many dog walkers also enjoying the views and the fresh warm air. Sadly my camerawork hasn't delivered with far too many average shots, poor framing and inaccurate exposures.

I left the top of the hills by driving along the ridge through Minchinhampton to Chalford Hill, where I descended down into the River Frome valley and to turn back towards Stroud. I had an urge to take a side road that runs along between the abandoned canal and the river which feeds it. By an old mill I parked to look over the wall at its millpond, which I've blipped before. The river was still high and flowing swiftly as it passed through the millpond towards the sluices on one side and the millrace under the building itself.

As I looked over the wall I saw about a dozen mallard ducks and this hen was sitting still on the far side of a bunch of reeds which allowed it some protection. Just after I shot this picture, a few drakes noisily arrived in flight and landed to much squawking from the other ducks. A scuffle ensued between the drakes but as usual most of the hens just floated gently away rather indifferently. This hen just sat still for the whole time I was there.