Categories
David

Cherry blossom, end of January

Cherry flowering, end of January

Japanese cherry in a front garden, the flowers all out at the end of January.

Categories
David

Blue and green: magpie iridescence

Blue and green: magpie iridescence

The bright blue of the wing feathers, and the green of the tail of these magpies is due to iredescence. The colours change depending on the angle of the light.

The birds were searching for things to eat in the short grass of West Park, pausing frequently to flirt with one another.

Categories
David

Hint of purple: lilac crocus buds

Hint of purple: lilac crocus bud
Purple (or perhaps lilac) crocuses just before the flowers began to open. Most of these were growing in someone’s garden, right next to the pavement. The larger clump were by the canal towpath as it went through Penkridge.

Categories
David

Feather: swan portraits

Feather: swan portrait

One of the West Park swans, with a downy feather sticking on the side of its beak. The bird had probably just been preening.

Feather: swan portrait

Categories
David

Shy little grebe

Shy little grebe

Little grebe on the canal by the Wildside Activity Centre. It didn’t want to be watched, still less photographed.

Categories
David

East Park: rus in urbis

East Park: rus in urbis

Wintry scene in the Dell, East Park. Housing estates, scrap yards and Monmore Green Stadium are all just a few minutes walk away.

East Park: rus in urbis