Witch’s broom is a tangled mess of growth of shoots at the ends of the branches of various species of trees. It happens when there is an imbalance between the various plant hormones regulating growth as a result of the tree suffering one or other sort of infection.
The Vigilant is a century or so old former Thames barge, slowly being restored by Topsham Quay.
Starlings were gathering on its superstructure in the late afternoons, taking positions fitting their place in the pecking order.
They may have been pausing before heading a short distance upriver to join the larger group in the daily murmuration near the motorway bridge across the Exe.
The next few posts will be from a recent visit to the Exe estuary in south Devon, an area I often visit at this time of year. It’s just in time to catch the mass of birds which use the area as a winter refuge before they head off for their summer breeding grounds, but late enough in the year for spring growth in some of the vegetation.
The area right by the river downstream of Exeter is an almost continuous series of nature reserves, run by the Devon Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, and ending in the Local Nature Reserve at Exmouth and the National Nature Reserve on the other side of the river’s mouth at Dawlish Warren.
This starfish had been left by the retreating waters near the high tide mark on the long sandy beach at Exmouth.
A closer view of some of the bullrushes from the previous post. Each seed head had a cap of ice crystals from the heavy frost.
The recently created water feature in Compton Park had a thin covering of ice during the recent cold spell. This view across the pool looking towards Tettenhall ridge was taken on a cold but sunny morning.
On a frosty morning the canal at Compton Lock and a little further downstream, the water steaming slightly, sending off a light mist which made the views gentler.