Wolves Wild

Red flowers already coming out in mid-February on one of the rhododendron bushes in West Park. Very early but a welcome splash of colour.

Male dunnock singing on the wall of a garden opposite St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Bridgnorth. There was also another male giving voice nearby, audible but not visible.

Prunus (cherry or related fruit tree) flowering in late February in Castle Grounds Park, Bridgnorth before there were any signs of this years leaves beginning to show.

Yet another of the West Park magpies prowling round, disturbing the soil under wood chip mulch and short grass, doubtless hunting for invertebates to eat.

Yews are dioecious – the trees bear either male flowers or female, not both. These male flowers were already opening in mid-February. A search of nearby female yews showed no signs of their flowers, not even buds. The normal flowering season is March to April.

Pair of swans on the West Park boating lake, swimming in the swan threat posture – wings raised from the body to make them look larger.

The cobb (male) was in front, the pen (female) only just behind. In the shots of single birds, the cobb is swimming from left to right. The pen seems to be headed straight for me. Actually, she changed course to make for someone standing near to me, feeding bread to birds.