A dynamic close-up shot of a male Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) reaching outward from a wire mesh bird feeder. Its vibrant yellow breast and face, sharp black cap, and dark-streaked wings are clearly visible as it holds a piece of seed in its slightly open beak. The background is a smooth, out-of-focus dark green.

A close-up of a male Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) clinging horizontally to a wire mesh bird feeder filled with sunflower hearts. The small bird features a bright yellow-green body, a distinct black cap on its head, and bold black and yellow patterns on its wings, with a seed visible in its beak against a softly blurred green background.

Siskin (Spinus spinus) - a very rare sighting for us; I caught this male on the seeds.

Google says they're more common in Scotland & Wales, increasing here in England thanks to conifer plantations and N. European winter migrants.

#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 269

A cluster of bright white Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) blossoms and fuzzy green buds growing on a branch, reaching up toward a vivid blue sky.

Close-up of white Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) flowers in full bloom. The star-shaped blossoms feature numerous ribbon-like petals and fuzzy buds set against a pale, clear sky.

Numerous white Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata) flowers blooming profusely across twisting, lichen-covered branches, softly backlit by a warm, golden-hour sunset.

Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata), apparently! I found a few in different locations I've first been/noticed this year.

Tricky to capture their beauty; all where in the shade or already a little past their best.

#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 268

Macro shot of individual blue-purple hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) blossoms bathed in bright sunlight against a dark background.

A bright pink hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) and its thick green leaves growing up through the horizontal bars of a metal plant support cage.

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Hyacinthus orientalis, a variety of colours in pots (some with anti-squirrel protection) and planted out around our house...

#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 267

A close-up, macro shot of delicate white Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) blossoms. The crisp, five-petaled flowers feature prominent pale green centers and long stamens tipped with yellow pollen, set against a softly blurred, neutral background.

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Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.), bush on a back path. And a couple of blossoming tree varieties, below...

#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 266

A close-up of a female and male Mallard duck swimming together in water completely covered by a thick layer of bright green duckweed.

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Ducks!

I've seen this pair at the pond in the managed woods and landing amongst the bulrushes in the drainage ponds of the new estate (below)...
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 265

A crisp, close-up shot of Saucer Magnolia buds preparing to bloom against a vibrant, clear blue sky. The tightly furled pink and white petals are bursting upward out of their protective, fuzzy, golden-brown velvet casings on the bare twigs.

A close-up view of several Saucer Magnolia blossoms clustered on a lichen-dappled branch. The large, elegant flowers are fully open, displaying creamy white interiors and striking pinkish-purple streaks on the outsides of the petals.

A wide shot looking up into the canopy of a Saucer Magnolia tree in spectacular spring bloom. The bare branches are densely packed with large, cup-shaped flowers featuring white petals prominently flushed with soft pink and purple against a pale sky.

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Magnolias (Chinese/Saucer) - I said I'd strive to snap some sunny SLR shots... And I came across a dozen more trees, further out around the neighbourhood... But I failed to better the phone pic of the only one I saw in bloom last year (below).

#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 264

A vibrant macro shot of a dense cluster of bright purple Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea) flowers. The small, cheerful blossoms feature four rounded purple petals and tiny yellow centers, interspersed with soft, fuzzy green buds and foliage against a shallow depth of field.

A close-up shot of several white, star-shaped Springstar (Ipheion uniflorum) flowers in full bloom. The delicate, pointed white petals feature a distinct dark stripe on their undersides and sit atop slender, individual green stems, glowing gently in the sunlight against a softly blurred green background.

- Garden aubrieta (Purple Rock-cress), several puddles of these, by the pavement, on my daily loop.
- Springstar (Ipheion uniflorum), I think.
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 263

A close-up, softly focused shot of a dense cluster of Bulrushes (Typha). The dark brown, cylindrical seed heads have burst open, covering the stalks in thick, cotton-like pale fluff ready to be dispersed by the wind.

A male Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), identifiable by its black head and white collar, perched delicately on the fluffy, exploding seed head of a Bulrush (Typha). The background consists of softly blurred, vertical dry brown reeds.

- Bulrushes (Typha), were filling the new estate drainage ponds with fluff, last week.
- Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), male, in his element. Apparently common, but I'd never spotted one before. Thought it a coal tit, by eye.
#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 262

A close-up, low-angle shot of vibrant red and yellow bi-color Tulips (Tulipa) blooming in a garden. Bright sunlight heavily backlights the petals, making the yellow edges glow brightly against a soft, out-of-focus background.

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Tulips!! I couldn't find an accessible cluster last year, on only short walks. Thankfully, biking to 'dahlia alley' lined me up with a sunny shot, this Thursday. Accidental SLR over-exposure came out all arty.

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A vibrant bush heavily covered in blooming pink Camellia flowers. The photo focuses on a central, sunlit cluster of bright pink, ruffled blossoms and buds among glossy dark green leaves, with a soft backdrop of many more pink flowers.

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Camellias have just been in peek bloom around here!
- Next door-but-one's bushes, either side of their back garden. Telephoto shot from an upstairs window.
- Below, two more blooms, of different varieties, out on my bike...
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Two House Sparrows perched on bare, intertwined branches. A female House Sparrow, with plain brown and buff plumage, is in sharp focus in the foreground. A male sparrow with a black bib and chestnut head markings is slightly out of focus just behind her.

A male House Sparrow perched, facing away but looking over its left shoulder. It has a distinctive grey crown, black bib, and brown streaked back, and is sitting on the bright yellow-green spiky needles of a coniferous shrub, likely a golden yew.

A male House Sparrow sits puffed up on the roughly pruned, bare brown branches of a dormant hedge. The male is in focus, showing its grey cap and black bib, while another sparrow is blurred in the background.

House sparrows, again very common, but I had to bike out to find any.

They apparently love the large mechanically hacked hedge between estates; it has so often been filled with mysterious bird song when I pass.

#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 259

A close-up of a cluster of blooming Glory-of-the-snow (Scilla luciliae) flowers, featuring small, star-shaped pale blue petals with white centers growing among green leaves

Glory-of-the-snow (Scilla forbesii (Baker) Speta) - smatterings of these shy delicate flowers, hiding in the shade and gravelly bits, around neighbourhood. Didn't spot any last year.

#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 258

A sharp, underside view of a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) soaring in a bright blue sky. The sunlight highlights its reddish-brown body, pale head, deeply forked tail, and distinctive black and white patches under its wings.

dark silhouette of a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) flying against a pale, overcast sky. Its long, deeply fingered wings are fully extended, clearly showcasing the species' characteristic sharply forked tail.

A Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) captured mid-flight against a dusky blue sky. The warm, golden hour light catches the broad, patterned undersides of its wings and its rounded, fan-like tail as it banks away.

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Red Kite (Milvus milvus)!
- I dashed inside for SLR when I saw this one slowly floating in over the house.
- Weeks before, almost home, on bike out looking for one; dived our feeder.
- Common Buzzard, another day.
#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 257

A close-up of several vibrant blue-purple Anemone blanda (winter windflower) blooms with daisy-like petals and yellow centers. The foreground flowers are in sharp focus against a soft, blurred green background of leaves and more flowers.

A striking close-up profile of a blooming daffodil (Narcissus) bathed in bright sunlight against a very dark, shadowy background. The flower features crisp white outer petals and a deeply ruffled, bright yellow central trumpet.

A cluster of Lungwort (Pulmonaria) flowers showing their characteristic mix of small pink and bright purple-blue bell-shaped blossoms. A large, out-of-focus bumblebee is captured mid-flight, approaching the blooms from the left.

Happy Mother's Day (UK & Ireland)!
- Greek/Balkan Anemone, I wasn't back out on my neighbourhood walks quite early enough to catch, last year. Many around hedge boarders.
- Nonesuch daffodil.
- Lungwort, & another bee focus issue.
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 256

Two Common Starlings perched on the bare branches of a tree against a clear blue sky, with a bright half-moon visible in the background... Composite of 2 separate shots, to enable both moon and birds in focus and properly exposed.

A close-up of a Common Starling clinging almost upside down to a thin, bare branch. The warm sunlight highlights its speckled, iridescent feathers against a blue sky.

Five Common Starlings perched at varying heights on the metal prongs of a rooftop television antenna against a clear, bright blue sky.

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Starlings, common, but never in our garden:
- Moon! 2 exposures combined with Gemini. Pleased with my patience, waiting under this branch, on my bike, for 10 minutes.
- Hullo! Yellow beak for mating season?
- Our estate, later.
#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 254

Close-up of delicate pink cherry plum blossoms (Prunus cerasifera) on a dark branch, dotted with tiny water droplets against a soft, blurred grey background.

Close-up of deep blue-purple hyacinth flowers (Hyacinthus orientalis) beginning to bloom among thick green leaves, glistening with raindrops.

Close-up of vibrant daffodils (Narcissus) with swept-back yellow petals and prominent orange central trumpets, speckled with water droplets after a rain.

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Back garden in late February's perpetual rain (SLR telephoto shots):
- Cherry plum (myrobalan) blossoms popping.
- Hyacinthus, planted out.
- Weeping daffodils (Narcissus cyclamineus)
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A Western Jackdaw with its signature pale white eye and grey nape clings to a metal bird feeder, reaching for suet balls.

Two Western Jackdaws flying against a clear blue sky, their wings backlit by the warm glow of the sun, highlighting the feather detail. One is missing wingtip feathers.

A large flock of Jackdaws in silhouette, some perched in the bare branches of a winter tree and others taking flight against a pale, overcast sk

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Jakdaws, common but still impressive:
- Beady eye on me, through our fat-ball feeder cage.
- Pair flying overhead (they often mate for life).
- Huge communal roost taking flight
#MEcfsEgress #UKbirds DailyNaturePics 252

A soft-focus, macro shot of several vibrant blue Grape Hyacinths (Muscari). The bell-shaped flower clusters are backlit by natural light, highlighting their deep purple-blue color against a blurred green background.

A bumblebee with a distinct yellow band and white tail feeds on a cluster of tiny white and pink Viburnum tinus flowers. The bee is centered among the dense blossoms and green leaves.

Bright yellow daffodils stand tall in the sunlight against a dark, moody background. Below them, several dusty pink hellebore flowers (Lenten Roses) bloom, creating a layered spring garden scene.

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Quick neighbourhood SLR bike this afternoon:
- Grape Hyacinths in he sun.
- Viburnum, with first proper bee pic of the year!
- More daffodils, atop a bare 'dahlia ally'.
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 251

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Sun's finally been out, and so are the daffodils, everywhere!
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Description by Gemini 3: A low-angle shot of a Great Cormorant soaring through a pale, overcast sky. The bird is seen from below, its large, dark wings fully extended. It has a long neck and a hooked beak with a distinct yellow patch at the base. A small white patch is visible on its thigh, suggesting it may be in breeding plumage.

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up, eye-level shot of a Eurasian Coot swimming directly toward the camera. The bird has charcoal-black feathers and a stark, white frontal shield and beak that contrast sharply with its dark head. The water is calm with gentle blue-grey ripples, creating a clear, symmetrical reflection of the bird’s white "shield" on the surface below.

Description by Gemini 3: A wide shot of a calm pond with tall, tan-colored dried reeds lining the background. On the left, a dark Eurasian Coot swims away, leaving a white wake in the water. On the right, a male Mallard duck is captured in mid-flight, blurred by motion, showing its iridescent green head and orange legs as it flies low over the water toward the right.

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Birding roundup! First, I took my telephoto to the old pond in the new estate, last month. Lucky to see:
- Cormorant, circling overhead! (But camera ISO struggles/glitches.)
- Eurasian Coot...
- ... Bullying a male Mallard off the water.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 248

Description by Gemini 3: A profile shot of a female Common Blackbird (Turdus merula) standing on a vibrant, mossy green lawn. The bird has dark, sooty-brown plumage and a duller orange-brown beak compared to the bright yellow of a male. In the soft-focus background, a dense cluster of white Snowdrops (Galanthus) is in full bloom, signaling the arrival of early spring.

Description by Gemini 3: A silhouette of a Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) perched near the top of a tall, needle-leafed evergreen tree, likely a Cedar or Larch. The bird is captured in profile against a flat, pale grey sky, highlighting its sturdy beak and powerful frame. The tree branches extend outwards in a tiered, triangular pattern, creating a stark, graphic contrast against the overcast background.

Subdued colours, back garden, away from the feeder:
- 'Mummy' blackbird, on our luscious moss-lawn, by the snowdrops.
- Crow in an silhouetted cedar.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 247

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up shot of a slender, dark brown tree branch covered in tiny, green flower buds, likely from a Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) or Hawthorn shrub. Individual raindrops hang delicately from the underside of the branch. The background is a soft, brown and green bokeh with a vertical white blur suggesting a distant waterfall or stream.

Description by Gemini 3: An artistic, moody reflection in a large rain puddle on a grey pavement. The reflection shows the intricate, skeletal silhouette of bare deciduous tree branches against a pale, overcast sky. The edges of the puddle are soft and blurred, with a hint of green grass visible in the upper right corner.

Description by Gemini 3: A large, dense Viburnum tinus shrub in full bloom, partially shaded by late afternoon sun. The bush is covered in hundreds of small, tightly packed clusters of white flowers and pinkish buds. To the right, the warm glow of the sun hits a red brick wall, creating a sharp contrast with the deep shadows behind the foliage.

Description by Gemini 3: A lush Camellia bush filled with vibrant, candy-pink double blooms and tightly closed pointed buds. The flowers have delicate, layered petals, some of which are covered in small raindrops. Dark, glossy green oval leaves surround the blossoms, and a few older, faded brown flowers are visible among the fresh growth.

Lot of water about on yesterday's little SLR ride, spurred by a peep of evening sunshine, amid the endless showers...
- Barely budding branch (maybe Blackthorn) over stream
- Trees still naked (in a puddle)
- Viburnum
- Camellia
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 246

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of two Yellow Crocus flowers (Crocus × luteus, often called 'Dutch Yellow'). The goblet-shaped buds are a rich golden-yellow, featuring faint, dark purple-brown stripes running up from the base of the petals. The flowers are closed and covered in glistening raindrops, surrounded by slender, dark green leaves with a thin silver stripe down the middle.

Description by Gemini 3: A vertical, close-up shot of a Mahonia shrub (Mahonia × media, likely the 'Winter Sun' variety). The image focuses on a dense, upright cluster of rounded flower buds in shades of lime green and pale yellow, with a few bright yellow bell-shaped flowers beginning to open at the base. Tiny, clear raindrops cling to the buds and the dark, glossy, holly-like leaves in the background.

Description by Gemini 3: A vibrant, low-angle ground-level view of a patch of Eastern Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum). The small, nodding flowers are a brilliant magenta-pink with dark purple centers, standing on thin, reddish stems. They are surrounded by rounded, kidney-shaped green leaves patterned with silvery-white marbling. Fresh raindrops are visible on the delicate, upswept petals.

Too rainy to ride, so took a short walk, found some more colour braving the perpetual wet.
- Yellow crocuses
- Oregon-grape (I think, not Mahonia), budding
- Eastern Cyclamen
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 245

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of several Early Crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus) growing out of a bed of damp, fallen leaves and green grass. The slender, tapered flower buds are a pale lavender-purple with silver-grey outer petals, all speckled with fresh raindrops. The background is a soft-focus view of a garden and residential buildings on a grey, overcast day.

Description by Gemini 3: A Phalaenopsis Orchid, specifically the "Eclipse" variety from M&S, presented in a white ceramic pot on a bright windowsill. The orchid's stems are trained into a perfect circle, showcasing multiple blooms with white petals heavily mottled with deep magenta-purple splotches. Large, leathery green leaves sit at the base, and the plant is backlit by soft light filtering through white net curtains.

- Crocuses popping up! Almost a year since I first made it far enough on foot to find some one street over! bsky.app/profile/z3r0...

- Phalaenopsis Orchid, a Christmas gift, sitting in the sunny spot I could find, not over a radiator.

#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 244

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Bird Watch Part 2:
- Our crows are so wary, rare to get a close up.
- Black Headed Gulls in their winter plumage (not Mediterranean or Common)!?
- More overleaf...
Shot from kitchen, so not really #MEcfsEgress, but bit of a workout lifting the telephoto! DailyNaturePics 242

To pick out the moons, I used the brightest aperture, shutter speed and ISO setting that I could. Without adding too much noise or shake. (Casual hand-held at 1/60th of a second F5.6. ISO not reported, maybe issue with the D5100 camera.) Europa is mostly hidden, bottom left, in Jupiter’s halo. This was just stood out back, looking over the house, getting cold in the frigged air while my dinner was cooking.

This is the best I could do, trying to resolve details of Jupiter's cloud structure. Stopping all the settings waaaay down, by comparison... Jupiter is actually 3-4 times more reflective than our Moon. But much further from the sun, so less illuminated. I think we can see the darker poles, top left and bottom right, of this unimpressive beige blob. I was just thrilled to clearly resolve the disk of any planetary body!

Stellarium (free Android app) screenshot, zoomed in and looking at the same spot, at the same time. To confirm what I was seeing.

Our Moon for reference; nothing amazing in terms of zoom (or setup). I enjoy it more, a little softer looking, in the evening sky. Wish I'd had this lens for a couple of other Moon shots I've posted previously.

Behold Jupiter and its moons Ganymede, Io and Calisto!

I did not think about my new 450mm equivalent (at max zoom) telephoto lens enabling my old 16.2MP SLR to image these, when I snapped the bright dot on a whim!

Details in image [ALT]s... #MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 241

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- Saw my first full rainbow of the year while out today!
- Dramatic skies reflected in puddle.
- Some snowdrops out in the back garden.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 240

Description by Gemini 3: A bright, close-up shot of several Daffodils (Narcissus). The flowers are a uniform, vibrant yellow with distinct central trumpets and six surrounding petals, standing tall on thick green stems.

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up of vibrant Blue Hyacinths (Hyacinthus). The bell-shaped flowers are a rich indigo-blue with slightly recurved petals, tightly packed along a thick, dark central spike.

Description by Gemini 3: A dense cluster of Cyclamen flowers. The petals are a deep magenta-pink at the base, fading to a crisp white at the ruffled edges. The flowers are tightly packed, creating a sea of pink and white.

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Unexpected trip to drive Mum to the garden centre today. So have a random splash of Winter colour!
- Mini-daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Cyclamen
... And in-store cat that looked a lot like ours (below).
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 239

Description by Gemini 3: A group of five Long-Tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus) are clustered together on a green wire suet ball feeder. These small, round birds have tiny beaks, very long black-and-white tails, and beautiful pinkish-white fluffy feathers. They are actively feeding on a cold, grey day.

Description by Gemini 3: A sharp profile shot of a Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) clinging to a vertical metal ornament. The bird has blue-grey upperparts, a long pointed beak, and a distinctive black eye-stripe. Its underparts are a warm buff-orange color, set against a soft, dark brown background.

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up side profile of a Great Tit (Parus major) perched on a dark metal garden table. The bird has its beak open as if calling. It features a signature black "cap" and "bib," bright white cheeks, a yellow breast with a central black stripe, and olive-green wings.

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I made an effort to process some of the back garden bird photos I've been taking this month, seeing as it's the #BigGardenBirdWatch this weekend!
- Long-tailed Tits
- Nuthatch, yesterday.
- Great Tit, close up to the kitchen window.
#MEcfsEgress DailyNaturePics 238

Description by Gemini 3: A close-up shot of Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus) bushes in full bloom against a soft, blurred twilight sky. The gorse is densely packed with vibrant yellow pea-like flowers and sharp, dark green needle-like spines. The background shows the silhouettes of leafless trees under a pale, dusky horizon, giving the image a cold yet serene evening atmosphere.

Description by Gemini 3: Ivy on a Frosty Log. A close-up, high-angle shot of a fallen tree log lying horizontally. The top of the log is dusted with a light layer of white frost or snow. A vine of English Ivy (Hedera helix) crawls across the textured, orange-brown bark. The dark green, lobed leaves of the ivy stand out sharply against the pale frost and the warm tones of the wood.

Description by Gemini 3: A vertical, eye-level perspective of a large agricultural field. Young, green sprouts of a winter cereal crop (likely wheat or barley) emerge from the soil in neat, receding parallel rows. Patches of white frost and light snow are scattered between the green shoots and across the brown earth, trailing off into a soft-focus background that emphasizes the vastness of the field.

Description by Gemini 3: A wide landscape shot of a pond in a woodland setting. The water's surface is partially covered with a thin layer of white ice and patches of green algae. The pond is surrounded by brown reeds and bare winter trees. The sky is a pale blue with soft, white clouds, reflecting a quiet winter afternoon.

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SLR ride winter shots from earlier in the week when we had a lighter dusting of snow:
- Lone Gorse bush blooming in front of farm fields at dusk.
- Felled log in the managed woods.
- Frozen crop field.
- Frozen woodland pond.
#MEcfsEgress #BloomScrolling DailyNaturePics 237