Tunstall Water Bridge carries the Smestow Brook across the Canal, after the brook has passed across Dunstall Park racecourse.
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.
Frosted catkins
Silk tassel bush (garrya elliptica) catkins, and those from a holly bush, both with a thin covering of frost crystals.
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.
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.
West Park winter visitors – two duck species
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.