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David

Pied wagtail pair by the shore, West Park

Pied wagtail pair by the shore, West Park

Pair of pied wagtails by the side of the shore at West Park, hunting for insects. Where only one bird appear in a picture, it is the female, which was nearer to me.

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David

Magnolia, Bantock House

Magnolia, Bantock House

The magnolia tree by the side of Bantock House, currently in full flower.

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David

Year’s first butterfly: peacock

Year's first butterfly: peacock

Because of the low temperatures this spring, there haven’t been many insects prominently visible out and about. This peacock wasn’t the first butterfly I’ve seen this year, but it was the first I actually managed to get pictures of.

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David

Monkey puzzle flowers, Oxbarn Avenue

Monkey puzzle flowers, Oxbarn Avenue

A large mature monkey puzzle (araucaria) tree in a front garden on Oxbarn Avenue, currently with any flowers at the ends of its branches.

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David

West Park turtle, brief return

West Park turtle, brief return

Slow moving as it basked in the sun, the West Park turtle made a brief return for one day earlier this month. Since last August, it’s been hibernating deep in the mud of the lake. Its time on its fallen branch must have been enough to find that although the weather was bright it was still near to freezing. And so, presumably, back to the mud and another lie-in until it gets warmer.

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David

Velvet shank cluster, Railway Walk, Lower Penn

Velvet shank cluster, Railway Walk, Lower Penn

Velvet shank mushrooms grow in tight clusters at the base of tree trunks and stumps. These were at the edge of the Railway Walk near Lower Penn.