Wolves Wild

The footpath along the Severn at Shrewsbury, between Greyfriars Footbridge and English Bridge. Not far from the footbridge, a high brick wall on one side of the path, with a birdseed feeder just visible hanging above it. On the other side a willow overhanging the river, still bare of signs of foliage.

A pair of goldfinches were very busy feeding; now on the seeds, now on the tree. When it was quiet, they were hopping among the branches of the tree, searching for insects. If someone used the footpath, especially if they had a dog with them, they retreated to the higher vantage point with seeds.

Unless they are present in huge hosts, I prefer daffodils before the flower buds have opened properly. These were in Quarry Park, Shrewsbury.

A stroll along the Severn at Shrewsbury. Along the stretch from the Porthill Footbridge, a pair of goosanders on the river, almost matching our pace for a while.

As we approached and passed under English bridge, another pair were swimming steadily just ahead of us.

Seen in the cold weather at the start of last month, lightly frosted, the woody remains of one of last year’s umbellifers.

A pair of long tailed tits were flitting about in a tree overhanging the Severn at Victoria Wharf. Shrewsbury, looking for tiny insects to eat. I think it was always the same bird that I managed to get in my viewfinder.

The old bridge at Atcham, built 1769-71, to carry traffic on Telford’s improved Holyhead Road over the Severn a couple of miles downstream from Shrewsbury. Now an ancient monument which carries a footpath while the road traffic thunders across the new (in 1929) bridge nearby.

All along the stonework of the bridge, there’s a fine crop of lichens. Also included in the set are a couple of shots of the bridge itself, and the view south from the bridge, over the river and towards the Uriconian hills in the distance.