Grey wagtail feeding, Tunstall Water Bridge

Grey wagtail feeding, Tunstall Water Bridge

Grey wagtail feeding on a mudbank in the Smestow Brook, between the culvert carrying the water under Wolverhampton Racecourse and Tunstall Water Bridge taking it across the canal.

A second bird was briefly visible while I was getting out my camera, but disappeared round a corner before I was ready to take any pictures.

Chickweed, flowers just opening

Chickweed, flower just opening

Chickweed growing in a patch of soil on a pavement by one of the main roads into Wolverhampton. When I took these close-ups a couple of weeks ago, the tiny flowers were just beginning to open.

Crested grebes contemplating courtship, Pool Hall Fisheries

Crested grebes contemplating courtship, Pool Hall Fisheries

Pair of great crested grebes on the water at Pool Hall Fisheries. They hadn’t got round to the full, impressive courtship display while I was there, but they seemed to be working up to it. Each was closely watching what the other was doing as they synchronised their preening.

Cormorant on a high wire, preening

Cormorant on a high wire, preening

Cormorant perched on one of the high wires carrying power cables across the River Severn at Diglis, Worcester, leisurely preening its feathers.

Violets with pinkish flowers

Violet with pinkish flowers

Violets at different spots by the towpath between Newbridge and the Water Bridge flowering earlier this month. To me the flowers looked more pink than purple, but perhaps not quite as much as in these pictures.