Machcin's wetlands icy – but dry

The hard frost continues (it was -9°C overnight), so having checked out the wetlands to the north of Sułkowice, I decided today to see what the situation is like in the 'Nawiedzone mokradła' ('haunted wetlands') that lie in Machcin, between Dąbrowa Duża and Rososz. In the spring, this is the breeding ground of dozens of cranes; would I be able to locate their nests?

On my way there (a 50-minute walk from home), I was overflown by said dozens of cranes, flying west (i.e. away from the wetlands). There were more individuals in this particular formation than I could cram into frame, given the long telephoto zoom I was using.

As they passed overhead, I got a tighter shot of the leading quartet.

Where are they going? Since late December, I've seen gaggles of cranes overhead, most recently two days ago. The common Eurasian crane (Grus grus) normally flies off to winter in warmer climes by the end of November to return in late February. This year, it's like they never really left... Climate change is confusing these days.

On, on to the wetlands. To my surprise, wet they're not. Whereas the last time I visited (in late summer), the grassy tufts were islands surrounded by stagnant water, and the reedbeds in the middle distance were impossible to reach, today I find that the water-table has dropped to the point where I can see no ice. Each tuft is separated from the next by a grassy valley; I move forward by hopping from one hillock to the next or by walking around them. Every now and then, there's a drainage ditch; in them the pitifully low water has frozen solid. Here I can progress more comfortably towards the reeds. Below: the line in the middle is the start of the reedbeds, which stretch on back to the treeline. 

Below: inside the reedbeds. The only way through is along the drainage channels, which look to be man-made, excavated to facilitate water flow through the wetlands. Some of the reeds are over two metres tall. Water at the bottom is frozen totally and absolutely solid. No chance of wet socks today.

Common cranes nest in a variety of shallow freshwater wetlands such as large wet meadows, bogs, forested swamps, sedge meadows, and lake edges. They generally prefer large, isolated nesting territories that are free from disturbance. Now, is this the remnants of a crane's nest? Or just a random scattering of sticks? Some are the thickness of a human forearm...

Using the drainage channels I turn south and do something I've never done before – reach the far shore of the wetlands. 

Left: here on the margin between marsh and forest, I come across evidence of tree felling – though by whom? Beavers or humans? It seems the beavers had first crack, but I see evidence of chainsaw as well as teeth. Young birch trees make for good fence posts...

Below: out of the swamp and into the forest behind Dąbrowa Duża, where pines prevail.

Back to Jakubowizna, then; another gorgeous day, under a clear, bright sky. Below: is this Stella-Plage? Are we on Oxshott Common? No, this is a short walk from Jakubowizna. Sunshine brings out the best in me.

In total, I walked two hours. And in that time, I did not see another human being. Luxury!

This time two years ago:
Right-of-way cobble
[the authorities soon crumbled!]

This time three years ago:
Sunshine, I need the sunshine

This time eight years ago:
Consciousness outside the body

This time 11 years ago:
Sustainability and the feminisation of business

This time 12 years ago:
Lent kicks off (somewhat earlier than this year)

This time 13 years ago:
Feeling at home on the ice

This time 14 years ago:
Wetlands in (a milder) winter

This time 17 years ago:
Railway miscellany