David

The first snowdrops I’ve spotted for 2021, splattered with mud thrown up by the heavy rains. Growing in Bantock Park; Bantock House can be seen, out of focus, in the background.

Keeping a careful look out: carrion crow on the edge of the roof of a block of flats opposite Bantock Park.

The coverings of the fruits on a spindle tree a little while ago, the fruits now all gone – eaten by birds probably. From a distance the pink remains look a bit like flowers on an otherwise bare tree.

The recent rains have left many wide and deep puddles in fields and parks. Here a pair of the West Park mallards swim by some of the park’s shrubs, drinking the water and dabbling for food as they do so.

A bright sun shining at a low angle through a heavy mist made Bantock Park atmospheric on a morning earlier this month.

A gang of house sparrows have been dominating our bird feeders this winter. Out in some numbers, mainly for the fat balls, they have been discouraging other small birds from coming while they are there. It’s when they have been taking pauses that other species are more embolden to arrive.