Winter sun on the Wicklow wetlands / Soleil d’hiver sur le marais de Wicklow
On Friday after school, my friend Anita and I took our six children for a gentle stroll around the East Coast Nature Reserve, Newcastle, Co Wicklow.
Also known as the Blackditch & Murrough Wetlands, this little known gem of the east coast of Ireland is a wintering haven for many migratory birds.
From a birdwatching hide, we spotted a couple of swans gliding gracefully on the mirror-like marsh. Later, as the sun was setting behind the Wicklow Mountains, a gaggle of geese took flight against the dusky sky.
At the end of a dull week of low cloud and overcast skies, the winter light bathed the place in a magical glow.
Egalement dénommé zone humide de Blackditch & Murrough, cette réserve méconnue de la côte Est de l’Irlande accueille des centaines d’oiseaux migrateurs en hivernage.
D’une des cabanes d’observation, nous avons repéré deux cygnes glissant élégamment sur les eaux immobiles du marais. Plus tard, comme le soleil se couchait derrière les monts de Wicklow, une volée d’oies décolla soudain contre le ciel orangé.
Au terme d’une semaine de nuages bas et de ciel couvert, le soleil hivernal baignait les lieux d’une lumière féérique.
Jedi
Mermaid / Sirène
Pebbles / Caillou
Squirrel / Ecureuil
Getting there
Bird Watch Ireland‘s East Coast Nature Reserve is located 2km east of Newcastle, Co Wicklow. While driving on the R761 through Newcastle, turn onto the Sea Road. Parking is available on the roadside, across the road from the Newcastle Aerodrome (EINC). Please note that dogs are not allowed in the bird sanctuary.
S’y rendre
La Réserve naturelle de côte Est, gérée par Bird WatchIreland, se trouve à 2 km à l’est de Newcastle, Co Wicklow. De la route R761 qui traverse Newcastle, tournez sur Sea Road, en direction de la mer. Stationnement à l’entrée de la réserve, en face de l’aérodrome de Newcastle (EINC). A noter que les chiens sont interdits sur l’ensemble de la réserve ornithologique.
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Gorgeous photos, it looks like a lovely peaceful place to explore.
Thank you for linking up
Thanks for hosting Darren! I only discovered your linky today, but I’ll try to link up as often as possible from now on 😉
Beautiful photos, days like this are made for country exploration. The wetlands look so pretty in the sunlight.
It is the best time of year to explore the wetlands, in my opinion. Thanks for your comment Fiona!
Stunning pictures – it looks beautiful!
Thank you Vicki!
Beautiful images, I love wetlands for photography.
Thanks Janet, I like trying to shoot into the light and winter is the perfect time of year for it. Still plenty to learn though! 😉
What gorgeous light. Sounds like a wonderful visit.
It is a lovely quiet spot, wonderful for blackberries too when it is the season. Thanks for you comment!
The light in these photos is stunning! Lovely pictures and looks like a great day out #livingarrows
Thank you for your comment Amy! I love winter light in Wicklow – when the sun shows up, it is magical 😉
Beautiful photos – it looks like a brilliant place to explore with little ones #LivingArrows
A great place indeed, although the little ones are a tad too noisy for half decent birdwatching 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Gorgeous photos, as always. We, too, love going for gentle strolls around beautiful natural locations such as this – and if there is wildlife to be spotted too, well, that’s an added bonus! Thanks for sharing #CountryKids
Beautiful photos, this looks like a lovely place to explore.
Stunning photos of a beautiful place. You have captured some magical light too
Great post and great pics and I love the dual language, useful for practising French! #CountryKids
What a beautiful place. Un belle endroit. #countrykids
These sunset photos are absolutely amazing!! Great mood 🙂 x
Beautiful photos. I love how you write in two languages. Wonderful. #CountryKids
Once again beautiful photos! Looks and sounds like a lovely day x #countrykids
Hi guys, did you not get the cache at the entrance gate? Your name isn’t on the cache page
Hi Philip, nope, unlikely as it seems, we’ve never actually looked for it. Next time maybe? Thanks for stopping by 🙂