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David

Moving across a half-frozen canal

Moving across a half-frozen canal

A mallard drake heading across the partly frozen Birmingham Canal earlier this week.

Moving across a half-frozen canal

First he gingerly stepped across a patch where the ice was (barely) thick enough to support him.

Moving across a half-frozen canal

He gradually sank into the water as he continued forward, seeming happier once he was able to swim.

Moving across a half-frozen canal

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David

Butter waxcaps

Butter waxcap

Several of the tiny waxcap mushroom species are bright yellow and do not blacken with age. If anything, these faded instead.

Butter waxcap

My guess is that these were the commonest such species, butter waxcaps.

Butter waxcap

Some of these had flattened caps.

Butter waxcap

One even had a cap with an upturned margin, putting the gills on display.

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David

Magpie on a conifer bough

Magpie on a bough

A magpie as it paused, resting on a bough of one of the West Park trees, watching me suspiciously.

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David

Squirrel running by

Squirrel running by

One of the West Park squirrels ran right past me, in the process coming up close without begging for food.

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David

Carrion crow on the lookout

Carrion crow on the lookout

A carrion crow perching on the top twig of a bare tree to keep an eye out for opportunities or dangers.

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David

December daisy, East Park

December daisy, East Park

A hardy daisy still flowering in East Park earlier this week despite the hard frosts.