Autumn's river notes and other observations
In the second half of autumn I started taking short notes on the things I noticed during my walks along the river. Walking the same path everyday I felt an urge to tune in and pay attention to the micro-seasonal changes I saw and felt. These are notes from my walks along the river and other observations.
11.11.19: River covering Larch Beach today, current quick with slipstream bubbles. Flutter of falling leaf or feather? Outpaced a rain cloud until I didn’t, felt the rain instead.
13.11.19: Watched the moon rise on 12/11 and watched it set from the studio this morning. River is still high. Papery brown beech leaves filtering late afternoon light.
14.11.19: Watched the moon rise last night and set this morning again. Feels good to say hello and goodbye. The path to river has changed, the covering of acorns is now covered in bright yellow, wet hazel leaves. Not entirely sure they’re hazel - need to check.
18.11.19: Why do some beech leaves shrivel on the tree before they fall? The sun is out! Jackdaws are in the chimney.
20.11.19: Path is covered in oak leaves today. New glasses on - everything is crisp!
21.11.19: Sluggish
22.11.19: Yellow sycamore leaves on the river bank have fallen. River is very low - can just see the current on the surface but almost lake-like. Saw a squirrel traverse three trees in as many seconds. A big trout splashed! Buds are set on blackcurrant bushes west of Larch Beach.
23.11.19: Into the hills! First trip to the Lakes in 10 years. Feeling wind at a height makes you feel part of something and free from everything at the same time. Dwarf juniper bushes growing in the crags. There is meaning in looking and seeing far away.
26.11.19: Saw a woodpecker along the river today! Super squelchy. Catkins set in some trees, but not sure what type they are. Hazel? Flat light with no breeze, glasses are coated in mist. Lunky.
28.11.19: First day in days and days when there’s been a crispness to the air and it doesn’t feel like it’s clinging to you. Heron perched, kestrel (?) crying high above, corcomant flew over at Larch Beach. River is high and fast, couldn’t keep pace. Glimmer of sun!
29.11.19: River dropped. BLUE SKY! Air is cold and crisp, sun feels good and everything is golden even though all of the leaves are down.
1.12.19: Beautiful early morning drive to the Lakes. Mist and low cloud on Ullswater completely blurring boundary between water and air, but breaking in patches of sun. Thick frost on everything like rock candy. Up a steep path to Place Fell. Towards the top, dropped into a col, complete silence, all sound and air and feeling dampened. Felt like an invisibility cloak where we were hidden from everything but could see forever. At the top of Place Fell a raven - guardian of the cairn - hopped and swooshed. Lunch in the sun, no wind, views for miles, a wet hill road shining in the sun, winding its way down a valley. Colors of the knobbly surrounding hills showing where the sun had melted frost and what was still in shade. Frozen pools on the way down with sharp crystalline lines in the ice.
3.12.19: Air like spring. River low and calm, reflections nearly like those on a lake. Early morning golden branches.
4.12.19: Magic bird day. Flock of geese flying south, overhead at the station. Oak leaves fluttering on the path and a heron flew overhead, crying and flapping furiously, trying to scare something away from something. Just ahead of the side trail to Larch Beach, a robin perched on a branch covered in ivy and sang. Looking up, a treecreeper! Have never seen one here before. Then just behind me, two birds with bright yellow caps - wasn’t sure who they were and had to look them up at home. Goldcrest! Walking down the Larch Beach, a kingfisher flew right in front of me, along the current. (S)he landed on the bank down river from me. I stood and stared and the same kingfisher or a second crossed the river from where I stood. I could see where (s)he perched and then (s)he dove into the river three times! The first time (s)he was partially hidden by bushes but I heard the splash. Between dives, a fish’s fin cut a ‘V’ in the river. Everything was pure magic and I don’t quite believe myself that I saw it all. Smiling ear to ear.
14.12.19: In Aberdeenshire and saw at least three red squirrels in the woods!
18.12.19: Frosty day along the river, even in the afternoon sun the ground was still hard. Ducks perched on their now frozen island. Today felt like fall is coming to a close.
19.12.19: Warm dense air, feels like Wisconsin in spring. At Larch Beach could see the path of the river during last night’s down-pour. Heron perched on the opposite riverbank. Only just noticed that the willow on the opposite bank is covered in a vibrant yellow lichen. Water drops hold to beech branches like they do on birch. Noticed a birch tree at Larch Beach for the first time today too, raindrops on its branches sparkling.
20.12.19: Likely my last walk along the river before the solstice. Birch catkins are beautiful today. Bracken are fully snapped and mixed in with the oak leaves on the ground - everything is the same shade of burgundy brown, beginning the cycle of giving back to the soil. Acorns in the path are broken open, dots of pale yellow flesh bright against the mud.
