Category: David

This sequence was taken in April, and shows a pair of coots and their chicks on the lake at West Park.

The chicks were still very young. It seemed to be the first time they had ventured onto the water.

One of the parents powers away …

and dips its head in search of prey.

The most hesitant chick is still on the nest. Others are in the water: two are clearly visible, another barely so behind twigs. There were six chicks altogether, but never close enough together to get more than three in shot at once.

Only a mother could love them (in fact both parents were feeding them).

Feeding. The white tip on the end of the chick’s beak may be its egg tooth.

The parent dives for a morsel to give to one of the chicks – the colour of its leg is visible near the bubbles.

The splash from a fresh dive for food.

Note the red eye of the parent and the texture of the feathers which normally look a matte black.

The yellow-green of the petals make the plant look like it has two different types of leaves.

A flock of 75 or so seem to have gathered in West Park.

The flowers on this tree overhanging the lake in West Park were almost overpowering.

The first two birds were resting on the ground, seemingly unconcerned whenever anyone passed close by. One was only inches away from the path the other was actually on.

This one’s nest was also very close at hand, not far from the edge of the lake.

Successive stages in the opening of buds of wild garlic flowers.

From different plants on the same patch by the side of the Smestow Valley LNR Railway Walk, pictured in mid-April.

Wild garlic – also known as ramsom – is best traced by its smell, which can be decidedly strong on a warm, sunny day in the flowering season.