Somerset in Pictures: Wildlife and winter swimming

Clara Bullock
BBC News, Somerset
Harry Trump/Getty Images A cormorant - a black bird with a grey body and yellow markings on his head - is flying across the picture from the bottom right. The background is blurry.Harry Trump/Getty Images
This Cormorant was seen flying over Westhay Nature Reserve

It was a week to look at the skies over Somerset - for various reasons.

One photographer managed to get some great pictures of magnificent birds flying over the countryside, while another took his camera high up on the Mendips to capture a special celestial sight.

Elsewhere, the weather was a real mixture of that classic British phrase "sunshine and showers".

Harry Trump/Getty Images A buzzard is sitting on a pole at at Westhay Nature Reserve. The sky behind him is grey.Harry Trump/Getty Images
Harry Trump/Getty Images The sun is coming up and painting the clouds pink near Glastonbury. Trees are silhouetted black against the sky.Harry Trump/Getty Images

Harry Trump captured the wildlife and sunrise at Westhay Nature Reserve near Glastonbury on 21 January. Westhay Moor is part of the famous Avalon Marshes within Somerset's historic Levels and Moors, and where Somerset Wildlife Trust works to help the animals and birds that live there.

A man wearing swimming shorts gets out of Clevedon Marine Lake. In the distance the town and its pier and beach are visible. There is nobody else in the lake and there are ripples going out from the steps where the man has just climbed out

A quick dip: Many people still have a swim at Clevedon Marine Lake, enjoying the health benefits despite the water and the air above it being pretty cold this time of year.

Josh Dury A wide-angle shot of the sky over the Mendip Hills in Somerset taken at night. The sky is dark and various stars are seen brightly shining with trees silhouetted in the foreground and a light haze over Bristol in the distanceJosh Dury

Stargazing: Photographer Josh Dury took this wide angle shot of the sky above the Mendips, taking advantage of the fact that multiple planets are clearly visible and bright at the moment, including Mars, Venus and Uranus. The phenomenon is known as a planetary parade.

Monique/Weather Watchers A bunch of snowdrops covered in water droplets is coming out of the ground.Monique/Weather Watchers

Welcome visitors: Snowdrops were spotted by weather watcher Monique in Taunton. They traditionally signal the start of Spring and usually blossom at the end of January and in February. Meanwhile, in Shepton Mallet, snowdrops were planted by volunteers in preparation for their annual Snowdrop Festival.

Sparky/Weather Watchers The harbour at Porlock is only half filled with water. A yellow boat is moored and some houses can be seen behind the harbour wall. The sky is blue and mirrored in the water.Sparky/Weather Watchers

The calm before the storm: Porlock was sunny with blue skies on Tuesday, whereas later in the week Storm Éowyn gave the Somerset coastline a very different look and feel.

Cheryl/Weather Watchers A view of Weston-super-Mare's coast from the beach. Houses are set against a backdrop of a grey, stormy sky.Cheryl/Weather Watchers

Storm coming: The skies clouded over as the week came to the end, with this rather ominous cloud photographed over Weston-super-Mare.

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