Abandoned and overgrown entrance to a badger sett where a badger trail comes down from the Smestow to the towpath at Newhampton.
The sett entrance is just yards from this alternative way in, still in use. The old hole is so well covered in vegetation that I only noticed it on a second visit to the site, even though I thought I had had a good look around the first time.
The belief that birds pair up on St Valentine’s Day may be fakelore: it’s first mentioned in a poem by Geoffrey Chaucer. But many birds have indeed been displaying themselves this month.
This male blackbird was standing on a tree stump by the lake in West Park, appearing to be showing himself off.
Adlers carry last year’s fruits (or rather cones) even as the catkins which will produce the new year’s are on the tree.
These cones were on an alder at the edge of the Smestow Valley Barley Field about a month ago.
Carrion crow in one of the trees at the edge of the Barley Field. It was calling loudly, apparently at another crow.
The bright morning sunshine, so rare this winter, was catching its glossy black feathers, making some of them look almost white.
Close-cropped picture of a section of a small but dense patch of snowdrops growing by the side of the Smestow Valley Railway Walk where it is crossed by the road leading to the former municipal (plant) nursery.
One of the many trees brought down by this winter’s repeated gales. This one, growing by the Smestow Valley Railway Walk, had been ripped up by the roots. The earth still sticking to its roots is studded with ballast which must have spilled out from the track while the trains were still running.
Carrion crow keeping watch from the edge of the roof of the derelict crane at Chillington Wharf off the Birmingham Canal.
Early morning frost on some of the moss growing by the root of one of the trees in Bilston churchyard recently.
Twisty winter-bare tree, part of a hedge in the valley of the Warwickshire Stour on a footpath approaching Clifford Chambers.
Aldersley Junction – view from the towpath of the Staffs & Worcs Canal to the bridge across the end of the Birmingham Canal. The last of the twenty-one locks can be seen through the arch.
Clump of snowdrops at Bantock Park, yards from the ones in the previous post, and pictured at the same time. The overnight rain seems to have cleaned these flowers.
Some of the early snowdrops in Bantock Park last month. Heavy rain overnight has splashed the flowers with mud.
Bantock House can be seen peeping over the bushes in the background.