On a recent visit to West Park, the water in the lake seemed to be boiling all along the shorelines, by the footpaths and the islands.
A closer look showed that it was the carp, thrashing about in the shallow water as they mated.
Common blue butterflies on the ground
During a stroll by the canal earlier this month I saw several small blue butterflies.
When flying, they showed their bright blue upper wing. An indication they were common blues, not small blues.
But because they are small, wary and unpredictable in their flight, I failed to get any pictures of them in the air.
A couple of them came to rest on the ground not far from me, wings folded so the undersides were on display.
Broom flowers, West Park
Flowers on bushes of an ornamental variety of broom growing by the lake in West Park.
Canada geese and goslings, West Park, on grass
More of the West Park Canada geese with a pair of goslings, this time ashore. The young ones were eating in a patch of short grass, the adults on guard and alert.
Walking on water(weed) – moorhen chick
One of the moorhen chicks on Compton Park pool, looking like it is walking on the surface of the water. It was able to move surprisingly quickly, standing on waterweed floating on the surface of the pond. The weed supported the chicks weight, aided by the bird’s large feet, acting like snowshoes.
Saxifrage, rosemary flowering
Saxifrage and rosemary, planted close together so their flowers would contrast, in the Bancroft Gardens by the Avon at Stratford recently.