Great crested grebe (possibly a female) on Pool House fishing lake with three recent chicks last weekend.
One chick is swimming behind her. Slightly larger than the others, it probably hatched first. The other two, which also have the striped, “tapir-patterned” plumage, are on her back.
The other adult, presumed to be the male, was staying in one position on the water a little further away, watching that this group were safe.
The Paddocks in the Smestow Valley Nature Reserve are covered in flowering butterburs in the early spring. This plant, and the many more between it and the hedge-line, were going over and beginning to set seed.
Song thrush searching for worms or insects to eat among the short grass of the churchyard at Worfield.
Closeup of chickweed growing in a front garden. Its profusion reminded me of a miniature jungle.
Swan with its feet deep in mud beside the River Sow as it crosses Doxey Marshes outside Stafford.
Reed growing in a ditch on Doxey Marshes, with a flower-head which is black or near-black.