David

One of the Smestow Valley buzzards perches in a tree by Dell Field when the snow was around last month. This was the clearest view I could get from the canal towpath.

The tree rising above the others bordering the field.

The panorama from where I was standing. The bird can just be made out as a dot on the skyline, half way between middle and right hand side.

Hebe flowering last week. I noticed it as I walked past a front garden.

Seen on a walk towards Castlecroft Bridge on a wintry day.

The family of swans which live on that section of the canal saw us, and sarted swimming in our direction.

The cob (adult male) led the party.

The pen (female) and adult-sized young trailed a little way after.

Perhaps they thought we had food for them.

The younger ones have lots of brownish feathers. They turn white when they become adult.

These may find their life-mates this coming summer. They won’t start breeding until they are four years old.

A robin standing on one of the posts of the fence around the pool at Bantock Park.

It knew I was watching it, but didn’t seem worried.

Eventually, it turned its back as it prepared to move to another perch.

The view looking in the entrance to the rose garden at Bantock Park on a sunny winter’s day.

A male mallard which had just got into the water of the then almost iced-over West Park lake.