Dive! Female tuftie

Dive! Female tuftie

Female from the small flock of tufted ducks which have been over-wintering on the boating lake at West Park. For once, close to the shore when diving in search of things to eat.

Fallow deer, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Fallow deer, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Some bucks from the herd of fallow deer at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, taking their ease on the golf course where they probably get less human (and canine) disturbance than in the public section of the park from which these pictures were taken.

This was an all-male group – the females don’t have antlers. There were two forms of coat, dappled and “black”. From the distance where I was standing, it looked like two different species of deer.

Willow catkins opening

Willow catkins opening

Pussy willow catkins just opening, these on a tree at the back of Compton Lock. A leaf bud is also developing at the end of the twig.

Willow catkins opening

Heronry, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

View across the lake at Wollaton Park to a heronry in a weeping willow.

There were at least ten birds in the tree. Look out for a couple of male cormorants in breeding plumage by the shore as well (lower right of the image at times).