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David

First frost, Dutch Garden, Bantock

First frost, Dutch Garden, Bantock

The first heavy frost of the winter, early in December, decorating the hedges of the Dutch Garden at the back of Bantock House.

First frost, Pitch and Putt, Bantock

Enough leaves were still left on the surrounding trees to make even the Pitch and Putt course look pleasant in the morning sunlight.

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David

Autumn red: liquidamber, West Park

Autumn red: liquidamber, West Park

Bright red liqidamber leaves, still on a tree by the West Park lake for some time after all the other trees’ leaves had fallen, just about a month ago.

The ripening fruits were also hanging from the same branches.

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David

The way the wind’s blowing

The way the wind's blowing

A few individual weather vanes for the new year. The school of fish in the first image are accompanied by one of the aggressive chip-thieves of St Ives.

The elaborate bishop and children later in the set should perhaps have been scheduled for a week ago. It’s St Nicholas, dedicatee of the church at beaudesert, Warwickshire.

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David

Moss and frost

Moss and frost

From the morning of the first hard frost of the winter, earlier this month. Moss, just about starting to send out the fruiting bodies containing the spores, liberally coated in ice crystals.

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David

Retreating tufties, West Park lake

Retreating tufties

Every winter there’s a rise in the numbers of tufted ducks (aka tufties) hanging out on the water of the West Park lake. Usually, they seem to spend most of their time companionably in one or two groups. This year, at least so far, their preference seems to be to gather in groups of three or four instead.

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David

Oysterling in a mossy bed

Oysterling in a mossy bed

Small moss oysertlings. tiny and delicate-looking mushrooms growing in … moss.