Solstice at Howling Gate
Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7265
Howling Gate is my name for gateway on Cook’s Field. This is a Somerset Wildlife Trust nature reserve high up in the Mendip Hills. To appreciate its name you need to stand next to it on a windy day.
Today I wanted to capture the solstice sunrise, starting while it was still dark in the hope of seeing some deep red colours. The actual colours exceeded all my hopes.
Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7269
Winter Solstice
The official shortest day was yesterday. But yesterday the sunrise was dull grey, so was the sunset. However, the actual time of the solstice was at 3:59pm. So please forgive me assuming that today’s sunrise is close enough!
Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7295
That clump of sycamores is a local landmark which I have photographed many times. In the nearby field the sheep do not pay any attention to the sunrise.
Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID JB_7313
By the time the sun appeared over the horizon it was obscured by cloud, so to complete this solstice story I looked back through my picture catalog and found this one of the same trees taken in December 2017.
Sunrise at Cooks Fields – Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. ID 824_1719
