Chasing Sunset

Chasing Sunset - Sun setting over the River Ouse in Milton Keynes
Chasing Sunset

Seeing the sky on fire, as our life providing sun, slowly sinks into the horizon, lifts the spirits. The plethora of colour spreading out across the clouds. Reds, oranges, purples, blues, hues throughout their ranges. Watching a sunset is something we should all do more often (at least once a month in my opinion) and what better way to #GetOutside.

Chasing Sunset

For a change I opted for an afternoon/evening walk around the patch, catching the golden glow of evening, and chasing sunset.

There was a very cold, biting wind, whipping across the nature reserve. The problem with this is that a strong wind, especially when cold, tends to push the ducks into the margins. And so it was today. While a few birds were visible, the odd teal vocally piping within the weedy edges; a few Mallards already beginning to pair up; some elegant swans, regally swimming the deeper waters; for the most part the reserve was quiet.

Mallard Pair
Mallard Pair
Tufted Duck (male)
Tufted Duck (male)
Mute Swan in Flight
Mute Swan in Flight

Fading Light

As I made my way back from the Stilt Pits, the sun was beginning its decent, dipping behind low clouds and high trees. The golden light it was creating was spectacular. The local Konik Ponies, now in the fields below the farm, were glowing as they fed hungrily on the lush green grass.

Konik Pony in evening light
Konik Pony in evening light
Two Konik Ponies, lit by golden sun
Two Konik Ponies, lit by golden sun

A slate grey Sparrowhawk, blasted through the reserve, sending small birds scattering in all directions. Twittering Goldfinch, alarming Blackbirds, Squawking Starling, the air was briefly alive.

I was heading to the Aqueduct, my aim to photograph the sun setting through the arches (this didn’t happen, wrong angles). On the way, in one of the small pools at the Western end of the reserve, a long legged, yellow socked, Little Egret waded the glowing waters. One of my favourite sights is still a little egret stalking the fish in a small pool. Despite how common they are these days, they will always be an exotic bird to me.

Little Egret in the glowing light of a setting sun
Little Egret in the glowing light of a setting sun
Aqueduct in failing light
Aqueduct in failing light

Sunset over the River Ouse

Deciding to cut my losses at the Aqueduct, I moved on down river, to get to a position where I could watch the sun setting.

As I walked the golden glow grew, the colours began to increase, and the reflections across the water became increasingly stunning.

Sunset Photos

Golden glow across the fields at Cosgrove
Golden glow across the fields at Cosgrove
Golden light on the River Ouse
Golden light on the River Ouse
Blues and Golds
Blues and Golds
Sunset in the Ouse Valley
Sunset in the Ouse Valley
Deep Blues and Golden glows - Sunset over the River Ouse
Deep Blues and Golden glows
The sun, finally gone
The sun, finally gone

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Chasing Sunset - an evening walk around the floodplain forest NR and Ouse Valley with lots of sunset photos
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