A few of the black-headed gulls from the resident flock at West Park lining up standing on the side rail of the lake in the middle of the month. All are at different stages in the adoption of breeding plumage, the cap of black feathers on the top of the head which gives the species its name.
A pair of carrion crows looking for food on one of the areas of short grass in West Park recently, frequently raising their heads and looking round in case there were any threats. This is the bird which was a little nearer to me.
Between a pavement and a garden wall, a narrow band of vegetation was growing. Mosses and tiny grasses were among the mixture, but rising tallest was some chickweed with flowers which were just starting to open at the beginning of the month.
At the end of February eleven years ago there was a cold snap. Velvet shank fungi growing on a fallen tree near the Cupcake Junction tearooms on the Railway Walk, with a layer of frost on the upper surfaces. It’s one of those species which can just shrug off such mistreatment, reviving when thawed.
The top branches of a monkey puzzle tree in a front garden. Even at the very start of this month, there were signs of new growth: the short, paler green sections at the tips of the branches.
Garden birds visiting a window feeding tray over the course of a February morning (quiet periods excised).
Most of the birds were bluetits, with several visitors. One or perhaps two great tits showed briefly, as did one or two house sparrows. A robin came once or twice.
Don’t adjust your volume control – because it was recorded from inside a window, it’s silent.