Category: David

A mass of catkins hanging down from the branches of an alder growing by the pool at Compton Park, gtiving a curtail-like effect.

The smaller pool at Perton looking very empty. A few coots gathering in the Penk just before it debouched into the pool (the bridge in the distance, first picture). Four or five mallards gathered in the outlet channel which was behind me.

In the middle of the water, only two tufted duck, behaving like they were an established pair. Perhaps they will be nesting there in the coming weeks.

Violets growing wild are not very common round here. This plant, and a couple of others, was growing on a steep bank by the canal towpath in the countryside beyond Castlecroft. Some years ago, the bank used to be covered in spring by celandines and violets flowering about the same time. Then it started to be heavily used as s short cut between two footpaths, so the vegetation took a pounding.

It’s been a while since there was any sign of violets, but now it looks like they may be recovering. Hopefully, there will even be flowes soon.

Tobin between two molehills by a canal towpath, looking like it couldn’t decide which one to investigate to see if it could find anything to eat.

The bright yellow flowers of marsh marigolds opening by the tiny stream and the ponds of the small nature reserve at the back of the i54 industrial estate.

Very few birds on the big lake at Perton recently, but surrounded by a large empty space, a female goosander. Probably taking a pause for a rest and a snack while travelling round the region in search of a possible mate.

Dived and ate fish while I watched, but no sign of the bird when I revisited a couple of days later.