Rainy days

hickson's
Originally uploaded by wherethewolvesare.

After checking my nature journal, I see that it's rained here on nine consecutive days, and no forseeable end to the wet weather yet. A while to go before we reach Noah proportions but it's no surprise to see bits of minor flooding in the surrounding areas, like this bit at Fairburn Ings RSPB Reserve. The sketch shows the south-western edge of the reserve, a pool known locally as just Hickson's. The water's edge is normally well before the hedgerow shown.

I daresay that, annoyingly, the rain will have been heavy enough to wash out some early wetland nesters along the Aire Valley but nowhere near enough to stave off water shortages in the summer.

On a more positive note, Fairburn Ings is a great example of the nature's powers of recovery, given the chance. The Ings are the result of mining subsidence and slag heaps, with the flora and fauna allowed to colonise the area after the cessation of mining operations.