ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 9 January 2016

CRISP. (09/01/16)

It’s a beautiful, windless and frosty morning. There is cloud covering the sky but it is high cloud.  I didn’t take a camera on our walk as it was still almost dark at 0830h. We got two walks this morning as I had to go out again with the camera. Fortunately the subject was only half to threequarters of a mile from the van.
The first good examples of hair ice this winter and they were even better before naughty Molly sniffed them and broke a load off.
HairIce
HairIce-2HairIce-1
It’s fascinating stuff; it occurs on Beech twigs and is caused by cool windless weather with a bit of help from some sort of fungus. It tastes quite bitter but that may be Beech sap.
It looks as if we are due yet more rain by lunchtime. Oh what joy.

24 comments:

  1. Fascinating stuff and photos. I hope the rain stays away.

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  2. Marie took the words right out of my kbd.
    We seem to have joined you in the wetness stakes.

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    1. John, last January was bad but I think this is worse.

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  3. Awesome macro photos of the frost!

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    1. Linda, not so good as I have lost the knack. It will come back with the insects.

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  4. You made the most f the opportunity.

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    1. John, it was an interesting find and already starting to melt. I suspect Molly breathing on it didn't help.

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  5. Preciosos hilos de hielo Adrian. Aquí de momento mucha lluvia, la nieve este año no quiere llegar.
    Buen sábado ;)
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Laura es lo mismo aquí. Lluvia y más lluvia.

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  6. It does look like hair. I get an itch to try a brush or comb on it...

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    1. Monica, it is very fragile and needs perfect shelter to grow. I tried growing it in a fridge but with no success.

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  7. nature and the weather.....fantastic what turns up

    peter

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    1. Peter if you have still night with temperatures around -2°C then it should be worth looking in a Beech wood.

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  8. Nice catch. I don't know that I've ever seen anything quite like it.

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    1. Bill, I noticed it for the first time a couple of years ago. It does occur in North America but not in Florida.

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  9. beautiful and delicate ! we have not yet frost
    but I'm looking forward the next days

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    1. Marty, it is quite warm here for the time of year. It will get colder this week.

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  10. Hair ice, fascinating.
    Great macro captures!

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    1. Laura, DOF is all over the place but the stuff is interesting.

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  11. Really like the hair ice it looks so delicate and fragile.

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    1. Douglas, it is fragile as Molly can testify.

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  12. I love the hair ice and those photos of it are superb. No beech trees here so no hair ice. Mind you we don't usually have sub-zero temperatures either. We did have a frost yesterday. My car's rear window was so surprised it shattered. Indeed it was a splendid day yesterday. Today it is storm face winds again. Ho hum.

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    1. Graham, I would be a touch annoyed with the frost.
      I don't recall seeing any trees on Lewis apart from those planted ones at the castle.

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