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David

Red: tree leaves in spring

Red: maple leaf in spring

“Red” spring leaves from a maple and a copper beech. Actually the colour, where the leaves are not reflecting the bright light, reminds me more of up-market chocolate.

Red: copper beech leaf in spring

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David

Partially leucistic blackbird

Partially leucistic blackbird

Blackbird with partial leucism: a condition where there is loss of pigmentation, resulting in white, patchy or pale colouration. This bird has white feathers around the eye. From a distance it looked rather like it had very large eyes. A clearer view shows the yellow ring around the eye.

Partially leucistic blackbird

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David

Canalside flag iris, Compton

Canalside flag iris, Compton

Flag iris flowering by the canal towpath very near to Compton Lock recently: views of the plant and of individual flowers.

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David

Young magpies by boating lake shore, West Park

Young magpie by boating lake shore, West Park

Pair of young magpies on the stonework at the edge of West Park’s boating lake just after they had taken a dip in the water, leaving one with very dishevelled feathers.

These birds can be recognised as young by their relatively short tails, or by the way they don’t yet seem to have learned to be wary enough of humans.

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David

Boating across the water

Boating across the water

Sculling across the surface of the water with their powerful legs, some water boatmen.

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David

Pale female mallard, West Park

Pale female mallard, West Park

Female mallard at rest in West Park. Most of the bird’s plumage is pale: perhaps the feathers lack one of the pigments which usually give darker colours.