“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.
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.
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.
Young magpies 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.
Boating across the water
Sculling across the surface of the water with their powerful legs, some water boatmen.
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.