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David

Black Swan, River Exe

Black Swan, River Exe

It’s winter. The weather hasn’t been of the best. Even when I’ve been out, I’ve been leaving the camera at home. So, from my stock of old but unpublished pictures, something exotic.

Black swans are native to Australia. There is a small population of them based in Dawlish. Sometimes they range rather more widely around the south Devon coast. This one had come up to the tidal limit of the River Exe at Topsham on the outskirts of Exeter.

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David

Berry brook, Northycote Farm

Berry brook, Northycote Farm

Berry brook on the northern edge of Northycote Farm. The boundary between Wolverhampton city and Staffordshire follows the line of the brook, which has marked boundaries for all of recorded history.

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David

Squirrel scratching, eating, West Park

A squirrel scratching itself, then finding something to eat on the ground.

An experiment in recording video using a mobile phone.

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David

No dabchicks this winter

No dabchicks this winter

No sign of dabchicks (little grebes) on their usual winter territories on the urban stretch of the canal from Wightwick northwards this year. These pictures are from six years ago, when one hung around long enough to develop its breeding plumage before moving off to its summer residence.

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David

Time to look out for this

Time to look out for this

Well into February, so its time to be on the look out for frog spawn like this. It’s probably not worth making a special excursion to where these pictures were taken a few years ago. The pond in Turner’s Field has recently been very disturbed, and may well have lost its attractions as a breeding spot for amphibians.

Time to look out for this

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David

Female tufted duck swimming by

Female tufted duck swimming by

Female tufted duck, with a less eye-catching plumage than a male, swimming by on West Park lake.

Female tufted duck swimming by