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David

West Park winter visitors: crowd of tufties

West Park winter visitors: crowd of tufties

Another day, another visit to West Park. In less than a week, the number in the winter visitor duck flocks seemed to have doubled. There were about forthy tufties swimming together in this group, as well as a few more in smaller groups or pairs elsewhere on the water.

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David

Frosted catkins

Frosted catkins

Silk tassel bush (garrya elliptica) catkins, and those from a holly bush, both with a thin covering of frost crystals.

Frosted catkins

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David

Guilty retreat (magpie)

Guilty retreat (magpie)

Magpie on a big front lawn, looking like it was furtively up to something (not unusual for magpies). When it noticed me watching, from some distance, it decided it was time for retreat.

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David

Treelike in miniature: mosses

Treelike in miniature: mosses

Moss growing thickly on the top of a wall. Perhaps I was feeling whimsical that mo0rning, but it looked like a distant view of a wood of young conifers.

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David

West Park winter visitors – two duck species

West Park winter visitors

Every winter, small flocks of shovellers and tufted ducks gather on the lake at West Park, before dispersing again when spring arrives. On the morning these pictures were taken, the two species were occupying neighbouring patches of the water. So I could grab all these shots while standing in one place, and swivelling slightly.

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David

Under a hedge, tender young leaves

Under a hedge, tender young leaves

Wild arum, variously also called lords and ladies, cuckoo pint and more. It grows in heavy shaded spots; here it was directly under a thick hedge at Wightwick.