Herb Riddle's photos with the keyword: Brushes

A glimpse of one of our local reservoirs here, some weeks after possibly the driest year on record. We have had rains over the past weeks bur it might take years to fill this up again. I have never seen the levels as low as this in over fifty years. This is Lowers Swineshaw Reservoir, the accompanying PiP shows Higher Swineshaw reservoir on the same day. The second PiP shows the normal levels taken in 2020. A stranger told me, as I took this photo, that water was being pumped out of these reservoirs and being sent to southern England as their water shortage is worse than here. We have no official drought here in Lancashire. Enjoy your day

A recent 'breath of fresh air' walk took us to a local set of reservoirs in the search for new autumn tree colours. However we were not in luck for such light on the trees. At almost the highest point a look to our right showed us the makings of a beautiful rainbow with the blackest sky imaginable. Whilst hiding from the coming onslaught of rain behind a wall, I ran off a few quick snaps being careful not to get my lens wet. Here is the result of two of the photos melded for this panoramic capture. Notice here what I had at first thought of, as a very dirty photo of noise/dirt spots on the lens or sensor but ‘no’ the lens was clean and dry, as was my sensor. So what are those white spots and streaks over the colours of the bow itself? In fact, it seems that the bright sun to my back as I took these into the black skies, lit up the fast rain droplets and that is that what we are seeing. Strangely, moments after taking these, the rainbow, rain and dark skies reverted to beautiful blue skies again (until we reached the golden trees then it went dull - of course.) Enjoy full size. Have a great weekend. Herb

Our second big outing on the ease of our lock-down. At the foot of the Pennines here, not far from my home, a view of nature and mans work combined. You don't see too many walkers up here at all. Beneath us are two of the four reservoirs comprising what are commonly known as the Brushes Reservoir group. The nearest one here is 'Higher Swineshaw' with' Lower Swineshaw ' just in the far distance. To get here we have walked about 2.5 miles up past the reservoirs and over the dam wall of the higher reservoir. We are actually on a rather nice narrow path that still has the old iron railways lines just about showing under the grass, that once transported stone from the quarry's behind us to help in the building of theses reservoirs. Listen with me here and hear the sound of Meadow Pipits in the rustling grasses. Nice full screen.