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David

Catkins and seeds together

Catkins and seeds together

The new year’s catkins hanging from the same twigs as the old year’s seeds on an alder. Picture taken on a walk on Christmas morning.

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David

Duck out of water (female tuftie)

Duck out of water (female tuftie)

Female tufted drunk standing above the water of West Park lake, with another female swimming nearby.

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David

Small cluster of velvet shanks

Small cluster of velvet shanks

Small cluster of velvet shank fungi growing on a fallen tree trunk opposite Cupcake Junction.

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David

Not a waxwing winter

Not a waxwing winter

Every few years, waxwings begin to run low on winter food in Scandinavia, and there is an “invasion” of these colurful birds which can sometimes reach the far south. It isn’t looking like like this is going to be one of these years, so here is a reminder of the last time they were here in large numbers. That was back in the snowy January of 2013.

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David

Patterns: last year’s bracken

Patterns: last year's bracken

A large bank of last year’s bracken, dry and browning, by the edge of a narrow side road at Quatford.

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David

Female blackbird on wall

Female blackbird on wall

Female blackbird on the parapet wall of the old canal Bridge at Newbridge, eating a small amount of grain someone had scattered on the stones. She had just, too quickly for me to get mu camera out, chased off another female which had landed first to eat the food.