Lesser black backed gulls lining up on the rail around West Park’s boating lake, ready to pounce from close by if anyone should start offering bread for the birds.
Purple: azalea flowers
Azaleas, a more shade-loving group of relatives of rhododendrons, like them often planted in parks. These purple flowers were on a plant by one of the entrances to West Park.
Narcissus flowering, West Park
Some of the narcissus when they were at the peak of their flowering in West Park at the start of this month.
Sleeping ducks?
Pair of mallards resting on the shore of West Park’s boating lake. The female was perhaps asleep, but the male was wide awake and keeping a close watch on me.
By chance, both pictures captured the birds with their nictating membranes (so-called third eyelids) protecting and moisturising their eyes while still leaving them able to see movement and potential threats.
Hawthorn flower buds
Unopened flower buds, seen on the same bush at the same time as the flowers in the previous post.
Hawthorn flowers opening
Close-up views of hawthorn flowers in a hedge. From a distance only the pure white of the petals ontrasting with the yellow-green of the newly unfolded leaves hits the eye. A closer approach shows a wash of yellow and blush of pink of the reproductive parts.