Return to Queen’s Sedge Moor

by Jeff Bevan · Published 25th February 2024 · Updated 25th February 2024

Dawn Skies – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9764

Early Morning

My alarm went off very early in the morning. Too early.

Most mornings I pull back the curtains to check the weather. It was grey and dull, but the clouds looked interesting. So after 10 minutes of should I stay or should I go, it was time to jump in the car. There wasn’t time to travel very far before sunrise – so my plan was to return to the same flooded field on Queen’s Sedge Moor as yesterday.

A repeat of yesterday created a gap in the clouds along the horizon. This was exciting as it opens the chance of sunrise and red skies.

Dawn Skies – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9792

Mackerel Sky

As dawn progressed the thick layer of cloud thinned into a mackerel sky. So beautiful.

A friend cycled passed and as I waved to shout hello they seemed surprised to see me standing in a field at that time of day. For me it was not surprise as this is where I find myself on so many mornings.

Dawn Skies – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9847

As the sun approached the horizon the colours turned orange.

Dawn Skies – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9849

Starlings

Then a real surprise as a large flock of starlings fly over head. The real shock was that just a few seconds before I had changed the ISO settings on my camera. If this had not happened the birds would have been a grey blur.

Sunrise over floods – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_9959

Sunrise

Eventually the sun appeared over the horizon.

Sunrise over floods – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0017

In the strong wind the surface of the flood water was not as smooth as it was yesterday. But it was definitely worth getting up early.

Sunrise over floods – Queens Sedge Moor, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0014

Once the sun is up the bright colours soon leave.

Flooding on Queens Sedge Moor – Nr Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. ID JB_0052

And finally…

This looks like a black and white photo. But it is in full colour, and only taken a few minutes after the one above. It is amazing how the dawn colours fade into another grey and wet winter’s day.

I waited a long time for another large flock of starlings to reach the moor. But it never happened – just a flew stragglers. I guess in this brighter morning the birds left their roost earlier. So I missed them.