A parade of zingy gorse on a grey winter’s day always lifts the spirits. At Colliford Lake, the prickly evergreen shrub harmonises beautifully with Bodmin Moor’s dramatic scenery, and I can never resist pulling a sprig carefully forward to catch its sweet vanilla scent.
It’s been wet more than usual lately, but when Mr Word Loft and I stopped off at the reservoir recently on the way back from Lostwithiel, the mizzle wasn’t a deterrent. It was magical being by the lapping water’s edge even in the damp weather. Mind you, I ended up with a messy hairstyle reminiscent of the wind-sculptured trees, their fingertips reaching to skies changing from silver to indigo.
Cornwall’s largest inland water stretches over hundreds of acres, and in the summer months, we have enjoyed exploring its circular trail of countryside and pebbly shores, where parking and picnic places are plentiful.
On this occasion, it was late afternoon. Embracing the fresh air, we took a short walk experiencing the changing mood of the land as dusk approached.
The evening chorus was entrancing, and I wished I had recorded the squeaks and trills as the birds nestled down for the night. I’m not a twitcher, but their calls were so sweet that I wanted to identify the species. Later, I listened to wildlife sounds on Google and am pretty certain they were golden plovers and lapwings, especially as I also discovered they frequent the locale throughout winter. Next time I go there, I’ve promised myself to try and spot them, too.
No wonder this Cornish corner is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and it was satisfying and tranquil to be there as the light faded.
Best wishes,
Sue. X