Winter colours of Silver Birch and Elder

Stormy winds howling through the trees, and waves breaking on the shore of Gunwade Lake  - the ideal antidote to another day largely spent sitting at the computer. 

After more rain and grey skies, there were a few brief bursts of low winter sunshine, which made the rufescent twigs of the Silver Birch positively glow, though it was outdone by the lichen-cloaked branches of the Elder.

I saw my first Ring-necked Parakeets of the year - a flock of about twenty, feasting on the seeds of Field Maples. It was nearly dark when I took the photograph in extra and their piercing contact calls sounded quite eerie in the dim light.