The view looking downstream the Avon from the chain ferry landing towards Holy Trinity church on a sunny winter lunchtime, with swans and gulls swimming on the water.
The chain ferry is out of sight, moored up in its bay while it’s out of action for the winter. It’s one of the last ferries in the country – perhaps the very last – to use this mode of propulsion.
The recently established local nature reserve in Stratford on Avon on a frosty morning early this month. The profusion of lichens on the bare branches of the trees shows the low pollution levels prevailing, while the light covering of ice crystals draw attention to the lichens.
The frosty lawn in Stratford on Avon with a group of redwings searching for food must have been quite productive. On the far side of the same lawn, a pair of magpies were busy on the same task. The pictures are all of the one which was somewhat closer to me.
Blushing bracket fungi are quite common growing on dead or dying trees, especially willows. They cause white rot, so will have contributed to the state of the trees. Potentially visible all year round: the fruiting bodies are woody and long lasting. But probably most likely to be noticed in winter. The “blushing” refers to the reddening which sometimes affects areas of the surface.
Growing on a (dead) tree beside the Stratford on Avon footpath known as Anglers Walk, which heads upstream by the river in an area which has recently been developed as a local nature reserve. Blushing bracket fruiting bodies have been growing on the tree for several years.
Cormorant in a tree watching the river Avon in Stratford. It also seems to be keeping an eye out on the Crown Plaza hotel.
Black swan on the river Avon at Stratford, seen on a second consecutive day earlier this month. The previous day, it had been swimming along with a small group of mute swans, with no signs of conflict.
Now it was near the chain ferry, in the midst of a larger group of mute swans which were hanging around in the hope and expectation of being fed. Someone did indeed start to do this. Suddenly the black swan started threatening all the others. Mute swans are quite a bit bigger that it, often touchy and aggressive.
Despite that, the black swan’s aggression cleared quite a space round itself, giving it prime access to the bread which was being thrown to the birds.
Once the food was all gone, the black swan moved from among the mutes, a little further from the river bank. and started to preen.
When we came back half an hour or so later, it had swum a short distance further upstream, and was preening again near the far bank. It was in a position where it still had sight of the ferry-side feeding area, and probably also the one by Bancroft Gardens and the canal basin.