Great tit

Great tit

A great tit looking for food in an oak tree.

Lichen

Lichen

These heavy growths of lichens are on trees on the edge of Valley Park.

Lichen

Tree

Tree

Growing at the side of the Staffs & Worcs canal, bare at the end of January.

Tufted ducks

Tufted duck

The tuft which gives the name to this small black and white duck is the feathers sticking out at the back of the head.

Here a female tufted duck in front of a female mallard to give an idea of the relative size of the two species. Tufted ducks are one of the smallest native species.

Tufted duck and mallard

The tuft at the back of the head is less clearly visible in this male.

Tufted duck

Oak tree

Oak tree

Deciduous trees in winter show their structure, as with this oak.