Category: David

A group of five tufted ducks were on one of the smaller pools by the path at Doxey Marshes when I visited recently.

A sunny bank by a bridge over the canal. Until recently it has been covered every spring in violet and lesser celandine flowers in their contrasting colours. Now there are just the celandines.

Spring is definitely on the way when butterflies start showing themselves. This tortoiseshell was feeding on gorse flowers in the warm sun on Good Friday morning.

Mallard drake standing on the shore near West Park lake. The bird kept raising its wings slightly, while the light caught the colours and textures of its feathers.

Someone regularly puts out bird seed at various spots by the path in Baggeridge Country Park near where it joins the Himley Hall grounds. One such spot is a tree stump by Island Pool.

Watching that stump for six minutes gave five bird species coming to feed despite several interruptions from dog walkers and joggers. There were bluetits and great tits, a nuthatch, dunnock and a robin.

I’ve also included a picture of a chaffinch which was hanging out on the edge of the path by the cress beds nearby.

Spring flowers on a plum tree growing wild in Compton Rough recently.