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David

Chillington Wharf, frosty

Chillington Wharf, frosty

Chillington Wharf, off the Birmingham Canal near Bilston Road, was originally built for water transport to and from a major ironworks nearby. When the works closed, it became a depot for transferring goods between the canal and the railway (hidden in the background of these pictures).

An indication of the length of time the site has been falling into picturesque dereliction: the post standing in the middle ground of the top picture is from a gas lamp.

Chillington Wharf, frosty

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David

Heron in a willow tree

Heron and river Avon view

Heron perched in a willow tree at the river edge of the churchyard in Stratford on Avon.

The bird stayed for some time, despite lively pedestrian traffic, sometimes directly under its tree. It even turned its head to keep a disdainful eye on a dog running loose on the footpath under the tree.

The long plumes dangling at its front show that the bird was already preparing for the breeding season when the pictures were taken (mid-January).

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David

Reeds and frozen Hickman Park pool

Reed in frozen Hickman Park pool

Reeds growing in the middle and at the edge of the pool in Hickman Park, Bilston, when it was frozen a couple of weeks ago.

Reeds and frozen Hickman Park pool

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David

Oak leaf buds

Oak leaf buds

Buds which will soon be opening as this year’s oak leaves, as they were beginning to grow in the middle of January.

Oak leaf buds

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David

Blue distant hill

Blue distant hill

The “whale-backed” outline of the Wrekin, seen from a lane on the Shropshire-Staffordshire county boundary.

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David

Ivy seeds, wet and dry

Ivy seeds, wet and dry

Cluster of seeds on an ivy, growing at eye level by a towpath. I couldn’t work out why some of the seeds were so wet the water was almost forming a drop, while nearby seeds looked bone dry.