Category: David

A mass of snowdrops, looking like they completely covered the ground, at Atcham near Shrewsbury. One patch, already impressive, on the slope leading down to the Severn from the village churchyard and the Mitton and Mermaid (which was having major restoration work when I took these pictures.

Across the busy main road, just behind the high stone arch over the start of the long drive in Attingham Park, an even bigger surprise. A small patch of woodland on either side of the drive, with the ground layer totally carpeted with the snowdrops.

Resident birds (those which stay in this country all year long) are putting on fresh feathers to impress potential partners for the breeding season. None less than the tufted ducks which have been overwintering on the lake at West Park.

The fur-like appearance of the catkins of a pussy willow. These catkins were just beginning to open almost a month ago, on one of the trees overhanging the lake in West Park.

When this Canada goose landed on the lake at West Park, it presumably thought it had found a large stretch of open water with no other birds already present to get in its way. In fact there was a large patch of very thin ice, not quite melted away after a cold spell. The line of open water its landing created is probably about half the length of the wake it would have left if the ice hadn’t been there.

Known as the holly-leaved barberry (or berberry) or as the Oregon grape, it’s another exotic bush, and one which produces flowers early in the year. The spiky leaves are indeed reminiscent of holly.

As I stood under a tree in West Park, a great tit was flitting about the branches singing at the top of its voice. I had to crick my neck to get these pictures.