Some of the yellow crocuses under the trees at Bantock Park, flowering a few days ago
Muddy waders (Canada geese, West Park)
Two of the large flock of Canada geese in West Park. The long wet spell has left lots of deep puddles surrounded by squelchy mud, with the geese in it up to their ankles.
Garden snowdrops
Very definitely a cultivated variety of snowdrops: the flowers seemed to be twice as big as any I ever remember seeing before. Growing in a front garden by the Compton Road.
Crocus buds, Compton Park
A clump of crocus with the flower buds just beginning to open: I wasn’t sure whether the flowers would be white or purple.
Wall-rue growing on a wall
Wall-rue growing on one of the walls of Compton Park. The original habitat of this plant was growing directly from the rock face of limestone hills. There mortar of the wall must have been alkaline enough to support it.
Follow that swan
A turftie (tufted duck) struggling to keep up with one of the swans on West Park lake as the two birds swim in the same direction.
Cormorant flying off, West Park, mobile phone record shots
After spending some time drying its wings, the cormorant had a quick look around. Then it took off, initially flying low over the water. As it flew a little higher I wasn’t able to keep tracking it with my phone camera (a crutch was dangling in mid air from each of my arms. The bird disappeared behind the island, and didn’t reappear.
Cormorant drying wings, West Park, mobile phone record shot
Barberry berries on a wall
Rather shrivelled but still bright red berries on a barberry growing on a wall, looking like any nearby hungry birds were still finding more palatable alternatives. The berries are supposed to be edible but sharp.
Swollen Severn, Boxing Day, the Quarry
More pictures of the Severn through Shrewsbury as it was bursting its banks with water from the series of heavy storms. These are views from a footpath near (but not too near) the river through the Quarry Park.
By the Port Hill Suspension Bridge, the small landing stage and duck feeding area was completely submerged, while on the far bank the waters were encroaching on the garden of the Boathouse Inn.
A little further downstream, the low winter sun was catching the bare branches of the weeping willows, making them look golden.
Severn high, cormorant fishing
More pictures of the period where river levels were raised following the storms over Christmas. The Boxing Day Severn, just below the Frankwell car park at Shrewsbury. A lone cormorant must have been swimming hard against the current to keep in one spot, diving over and over for fish.
Internet cabinets, Shrewsbury
In Shrewsbury, the cabinets, street furniture generated by fibre broadband and the coming full fibre landline are decorated each with a different picture on a wildlife and nature theme. Presumably it’s a;; on yet another of the place’s homages to it’s most famous son.