Tag: canal

June 9th – An odd little bridge on a bend in the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Wednesfield. Faced in roughcast and painted salmon pink, Devils Elbow Bridge is curious on a number of levels, not least the peculiar name. One would imagine it’s due to the bend in the canal. Anyone got any ideas?

June 7th – The waterlife went mad today. Riding along the canal to Chasewater, I noticed the tadpoles had hatched en masse; they seem very, very late. They swarmed and clumped on the algae at the canal side, and fish and birds were picking them off. I watched a common tern take something from the water, and sadly, Mrs. Swan has finally vacated the nest at Catshill. Whether she actually hatched any chicks or not, I don’t know, as there was no trace of either parent, but Mrs. mallard and brood seem to have taken advantage of the empty nest. 

Pedro Cutler will appreciate this entry. This one was for you, old chap…

June 3rd – Escaping from a day of tedious paperwork, I broke out at sunset and tore around Brownhills, letting of steam. The air was still and clear, the light excellent, and the town just sunk slowly, and beutifully into evening.

People will tell you this place is ugly, that it is worthless and is a hole. It’s none of these things. It’s gorgeous at times, and it’s home. This evening, with the air coursing through my shirt and power in my legs, I couldn’t have been anywhere finer.

June 2nd – I’m very sad that the swan couple that every year build a nest and lay eggs on the canal near Catshill in Brownhills appear to have had another barren year. I’ve followed their progress for three years now, and she sits, sleeps and waits patiently for her brood to hatch. Last year, after over a month of sitting, she abandoned the nest still with eggs in. I can’t see any this year, but she’s been sitting for over a month again. I don’t know why, but I find the swan couple’s patient vigil tragic. I’d love to see them with a brood.

May 30th – The Canada geese get a bad press. They’re fine birds, really; great geese, fascinating to observe, and some subtle sub-species to watch out for. They make great, proud parents, and have the cutest chicks. These goslings were on the old tonnage narrows near Catshill Junction, and had cute in shedloads. The whole time I stood watching, dad hissed at me, gently, warning me not to come closer.

May 28th – With most of the other local swan broods hatched, I’m thinking that possibly the pair at Catshill have had another unproductive year. I could be wrong, but the female seems to be losing interest, like she did last year. That time, they did actually have eggs, but they didn’t hatch; the is year, I can’t see anything in the nest at all.

I’ve been told that swan pairs do a dry run for a few seasons before they actually breed – does anyone know if this is true? I’m kind of attached to this couple, I’d love to see them with cygnets. Don’t think it’s going to happen this year, though.

May 26th – Caldmore Village Festival, then back to Walsall and on to the canal. Up through Darlaston, down to Toll End, then along the Tame Valley Canal to Rushall Junction, then back home via Aldridge. A lovely run. The birdlife was great. Plenty of cygnets, goslings and herons. Common Terns are stalking the water everywhere, but too fast for this slow photographer to catch. The canal was gorgeous. A fine day.