As I stood under a tree in West Park, a great tit was flitting about the branches singing at the top of its voice. I had to crick my neck to get these pictures.
Breaking: alder leaf buds
Leaf buds on an alder just about to open. Pictures taken on one of the frosty mornings a month ago.
Three parakeets, West Park, high in tree
Another rare (for me) actual sighting of parakeets in West Park, only a little while after seeing one of the birds investigating a hold in the trunk of one of the trees on the island.
This time, three of them were high in the branches of a tree almost directly above me, along with two or three magpies. The magpies were less than happy with the parakeets presence, but seemed to be having no effect on the intruders.
Emerging crocus, Bantock and nearby
Crocuses seen when the flowers were just about to open. Most of these were growing in Bantock Park. One was in a front garden nearby.
Parakeet, West Park. Searching a possible nest site?
Some of the local population of ring-necked parakeets have been regularly hanging round West Park recently, much more often heard than seen.
This one was flying between the different trees on the island opposite the Conservatory. Then it paused on one, and spent some time inspecting one of the holes in the trunk. Was it looking at a possible nest site?
Snowdrops en masse, Bantock
I’m not sure whether the snowdrops in Bantock Park are succeeding in self-seeding, but the patches they are growing in seem to be gradually getting bigger every year.