Wolves Wild

A misty morning over Christmas, and a lone cormorant was resting on a fallen tree which was just emerging midstream in the Severn at Shrewsbury. As it turned its head, it seemed to be paying more attention to the sky than the water. Then it wasn’t there any more. Eventually it surfaced, before diving again.

The day before, what may have been the same bird had been standing high in a nearby tree, waving its wings to dry them (here).

The section of the river Severn which forms the loop almost enclosing the centre of Shrewsbury is crossed by three road bridges: Welsh, Kingsland and English Bridges; three footbridges: Frankwell, Porthill and Greyfriars; and the railway bridge with the platforms extending along it.

Over Christmas, much of the country was blanketed in mist which hung around for some days. These views of the river during that period feature most of those bridges.

Focussing in this time on the females among the gathering of goosanders on the Severn by St Julian Friars in Shrewsbury.

Goosanders gather at various points on the Severn in winter to choose mates and then to actually mate. One such concentration means there’s a chance of spotting in central Shrewsbury, particularly on the stretch between the Portway footbridge and English bridge – the short stretch immediately downstream of English bridge seams a particular favourite for actually mating.

The most likely spot of all on this stretch is by St Julian Friars, a popular spot for feeding the birds. Some goosanders have learned that there are easy pickings there. On our visit last month, they actually outnumbered the mallards. They were also coming so close that it was easy to get pictures: some of these were actually taken on a phone.

I took so many pictures that today’s set is just of lone males. More to follow.

Snowdrops already flowering in late December inurchyard, a quiet corner in the centre of Shrewsbury,.

A cormorant pausing in a tree overlooking the Severn in the centre of Shrewsbury, spreading its wings to dry them before another session of fishing in the river.

Growing under the next tree to the wrinkled club fungus, some glistening inkcaps. These were recently emerged and damp, the best condition for showing the glistening which gives their name.

A short walk on New Year’s Day, and the unexpected discovery of two species of fungi growing under trees. These are wrinkled clubs.

Heavy rain before Christmas left several big puddles on the lawns of West Park. A new feeding opportunity for some of the resident Canada geese, and the odd mallard or two.

The water of West Park lake was almost dazzling as they reflected the bright sunlight and the pale colours of the first signs if the coming year’s growth of the trees on the island. On the water, a handful of tufted ducks.