The blackthorn hedge on the edge of the Barley Field. A visit less than a week earlier had shown the flowers on the hedge just beginning to emerge, almost all still as tightly wrapped buds. Now, towards the end of April, the flowers fully open so the hedge looked like a patch of white when seen from across the field in the early morning sun.
Male blackbird on the top of a tree, watching over its territory ready to see off a rival male which had had several goes at intruding into its territory.
As the weather finally begins to warm, butterflies are beginning to emerge. So far this spring, commas seem the most numerous locally. This one was warming itself for the morning resting on a bramble leaf on the edge of the Barley Field.
The impressive wisteria on the front of the Mermaid at Wightwick, seen yesterday at what was probably the height of its flowering.
Pair of coots treatening a third coot which had intruded into what they considered their patch of the West Park lake. First they leaned back in the water, raising their large feet to the surface, and kicking out to deluge the intruder with splashed water. Once it had retreated out of range, they dropped back to a normal swimming stance, and arched their wings to appear larger and more threatening.
Carp thrashing about by the side of the lake in West Park towards the end of last month. It appeared they were actually choosing the shallowest water to mate, frequently half-emerging with the energy of their contortions.