Solitude of the Mist

This morning saw another start with thick mist of white shroud the landscape. I found my self in the Claerwen Valley with only the flitting fieldfare and starling chirrup invading on the still calm I was enveloped with.

Dol y mynach unfinished Dam was where I felt the pull and therefore followed my instinct. It suited the sensibility of the day. Dol y mynach Dam was never completed and today there stands the footings. A small reservoir gathers behind the wall which is a superb pace for some unique and rare wildlife. This boasts the Welsh Clearwing moth, 5 spot lady bird, Otter, Water Vole, Corydalis weevil, wintering fowl and if in luck a fleeting electric blue streak passing you by of the king fisher. The Name Dol y mynach means monks meadow and it was likely the Cistercian monks took their stock to the area to graze on the meadows. It has this sense of serene and calm on most days visited. I thought myself alone but I did glimpse a fly fisherman, who I imagined thought himself alone.

The first few images are off the Dam and its place in the landscape. The second of a lonely alder tree perched on his rock. looking over to where Dol y mynach house should have stood, but was prematurely removed to make room for the Dam (which never came to that location after all).

F: 7.1 1/40 ISO 100 35mm lens

F: ? (around 7) 1/2 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: ? (around 7) 1/4 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14mm lens

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14 - 24mm lens HDR

F: 7 1/4 ISO 100 14 - 24mm lens HDR

Looking to the old house site

F: 7.1 1/15 ISO 100 35mm lens HDR

Looking down the Afon Claerwen from Claerwen Dam

Foggy Fridays

2 degrees this morning! So no surprise there was a mist rolling through the hills of the Elan Valley. Got a chance to get some photos before going to the Dentist and then onto Gilfach Nature Reserve to do some bat work and help with putting up a new bat box. A few moments to grab the camera in between.

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F: 7.1 1/40 ISO 100 35 mm lens

Y Foel

F:5 1/125 ISO 100 35mm lens 

Y Foel and Garreg Ddu Dam

F: 6.3 1/250 ISO 640 35mm lens

Y Foel in the mist

F:9 1/400 ISO 640 35 mm lens

Over PenyGarreg up to Craig Goch Dam this afternoon

F:9 1/500 ISO 640 35mm lens

Markets and Misty Mornings

Thursday was a busy day this week. Up early, children to school and straight to sorting out some old ewes for builth Mart this Friday. It was perfect in the pens sorting the sheep, the sun zipped down the Valley in successive movements between the rolling clouds. Red wing Thrushes and Fieldfare chattered above in the tree tops of the Rowan, methodically removing one red berry at a time until the trees are bare, then moving onto the next one. Felt very privileged to see 6 ring ouzel mixed in with them and the odd goldfinch and a brambling with the chaffinch. work continued and feet were looked to and tags checked.

Off to Rhayader Ram sale in the afternoon.

F:9 1/25 ISO 1000 35mm lens

Morning Start overlooking penygarreg Dam from the roadside.

F:9 1/13 ISO 100 35mm Lens

Reflections at Penygarreg Dam

f:5.6 1/125 ISO 100 35mm lens

Craig Goch Dam with moon above

F: 4.5 1/100 ISO 100 35mm lens

Welsh Mountain Tup

F: 1.8 1/40 ISO 640 50mm lens

At the Sale

Good weather continues...

Its been a busy week or so, with much focus on Sheep, sheep and sheep. In between the work there has been beautiful moments of light flowing through the landscape and the winter wildlife is taking its hold. The flocks of redwing thrush and fieldfare have arrived, ring ouzel have been seen. Brambling, kestrel, kite, buzzard, goldfinch are making up the busy bird species this month. Playing with new (second hand) 500mm lens.

F:9 1/80sec ISO 200 35 mm lens

Craig Goch from the hill above, took a trip out once gathering and sorting was complete

Badger Faced Welsh Mountain Sheep

F:5 1/400 ISO 1000 500 mm lens

F:7.1 ISO 2000 1/400 500 mm lens

Our White Hereford x Heifer calf

F:9 ISO 200 1/160 500 mm lens

Looking down Garreg Ddu Reservoir

F:9 ISO 100  1/6 35mm lens

"Danger Mouse"
No real photos today, been busy returning a dormouse back to his home after caring for him for just over a week and getting him to put on a little weight. He will be ready to take on hibernation and eat a little more of Autumn's bounty before then.
I did get a picture of the rainbow last night before the darkness fell from the house.

F1.8: 1/40sec ISO 1600 50mm lens

F 7.1: 1/15 ISO 100 35mm lens

Shifting light

Today on my journey back home up the Elan Valley from the local archives I found myself automatically pulling into park at the Garreg Ddu viaduct.....

The light was changing and chased across the landscape behind NantGwyllt Church. The few shots I took were of the Foel Tower which in this light looks so crisp and fresh. the sky was brilliant blue and the leaves caught the light as it filtered through. Couldn't resist a little walk up this section of trail, the path was so inviting.

F 7.1: 1/160 ISO 100 35mmm lens

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F 6.3: 1/160 ISO 100 35mm lens

F 7.1: 1/80 ISO 125 35mm lens

F 7.1: 1/125 ISO 125 35mm lens

Autumn Approaches here in the Beautiful Elan Valley

I believe it is the most amazing time of year (October and November) here in the hills. I find myself out and about more as there is much work to do outdoors with the sheep on the farm. Everyone is gathering  and sorting out those to go off to tack for winter or to be sold at local sheep fairs. These early mornings do allow me moments to sneak off with the camera and capture the "secret times" in this landscape.

The Picture below is Craig Goch Dam, when I pulled up I just stood and admired the way the landscape had changed with the usual hills cloaked out and hidden in the grasp of the white mountain mist; to start with it was very thick and slowly over the morning time the features started to emerge from its white shadow. Light played within the white veil and it was so spectacular to see, this was further enhanced by the cool sting of the damp air on my skin. Then it was time to see could my camera capture that ethereal quality. A kestrel hovered in front of the mighty Craig Coch and then flew under the arches of the dam - a gift to keep in my precious memories store.

Craig Goch - F 9:  ISO 125 1/50sec 

The clouds looked amazing in the sky once the mist had burned off, like ripples of silk across the sky. Rowan trees are currently laden with berries, if you are a wildlife photographer now is a good time to scan the autumn bounty for possible ring ouzel, redwing thrush and fieldfare. 

Craig Goch and Rowan tree - F11:  ISO 125 1/40

This picture below was my attempt to record the Elan Valley view down from the Craig Goch dam in a "middle earth" type of shot. I wanted to do something with the sun behind the mist. The colouring was down to the camera dealing with the light and I liked the effect. I sharpened the image and added contrast.

Looking down Penygarreg Reservoir - F .6: ISO 160 1/1250

Hoping this is the start to a busy and beautiful autumn here in the Elan valley. Some Dark Sky nights are also a hopeful wish at this time of year.