Categories
David

Wagtail on a river beach, Atcham

Wagtail on a river beach, Atcham

The Severn at Atcham, where gravel deposited by the river forms small islands and riverside beaches. On one of those beaches, directly downstream of Atcham Old Bridge, a white wagtail hunted for insects right by the shoreline.

Wagtail on a river beach, Atcham
Categories
David

Blistered cup (Peziza vesiculosa) fungi in clusters

Blistered cup (Peziza vesiculosa) fungi in clusters

One of the cup fungi, a group which gets its name for obvious reasons, blistered cups are quite common according to the guide books, but I don’t remember ever noticing any before. Can be found at any time of year, but least common in the warmer months. Usually found with groups of fruiting bodies packed together, like these.

Categories
David

Shovellers mating, West Park

Shovellers mating, West Park

A pair of shovellers on West Park lake, mating. Presumably they are nesting there too.

Every year, there are several sets of coot chicks, with moorhen chicks in smaller numbers. Almost every year some cygnets, quite often two families. Likewise for goslings: sometimes Canadas, sometimes greylags, sometimes both.

Mallard ducklings as well, though not very often. But I don’t recall ever seeing any other type of duckling,

Categories
David

Dangling flowers on a bush, West Park

Christmas box (Sarcococca confusa) flowers

Early spring flowers on a bush, or perhaps a shrub, by the West Park perimeter footpath.

Categories
David

Goosanders near English bridge: second viewing

Goosanders near English bridge: second viewing

Another day, another stroll along the Severn at Shrewsbury, ending up in the vicinity of English Bridge.

Once again a pair of goosanders on the water there, presumably the same pair which had been there before.

Categories
David

Yew, flowers opening, West Park

Yew, flowers opening, West Park

Flowers on a yew tree, just starting opening. I think these are male flowers – yew trees are single sex. They were on a tree by West Park lake.