Wolves Wild

Blackbird with a small patch of white feathers on the left wing. The dominant female in a garden, chasing any other female which comes too near to her. Even chases intruder males occasionally.

Ramson (wild garlic) leaves covering tree-shaded patch of ground near the danal junction at Aderesley. Soon the plants will be flowering, and the area heavy with the smell of garlic.

Dunnock in the branches of a buddleia bush, looking round warily, checking everything is safe.

A mass of catkins hanging down from the branches of an alder growing by the pool at Compton Park, gtiving a curtail-like effect.

The smaller pool at Perton looking very empty. A few coots gathering in the Penk just before it debouched into the pool (the bridge in the distance, first picture). Four or five mallards gathered in the outlet channel which was behind me.

In the middle of the water, only two tufted duck, behaving like they were an established pair. Perhaps they will be nesting there in the coming weeks.

Violets growing wild are not very common round here. This plant, and a couple of others, was growing on a steep bank by the canal towpath in the countryside beyond Castlecroft. Some years ago, the bank used to be covered in spring by celandines and violets flowering about the same time. Then it started to be heavily used as s short cut between two footpaths, so the vegetation took a pounding.

It’s been a while since there was any sign of violets, but now it looks like they may be recovering. Hopefully, there will even be flowes soon.