June 13th – So, the Watermead cygnets are down to five – this is definitely the family, spotted today near their nest. They started with seven and have lost two, which isn’t too bad – most likely to predators of some sort. The youngsters are growing well and seemed happy and healthy (as far as I could tell, anyway).
It’s so good to watch the local wildlife mature like this. You almost develop an attachment to the birds as they get older.
April 18th – Not far today, I was busy and weary with a rough throat. I busied myself with spannering the bikes, which are still suffering from the winter. A little wheel truing; further brake tweaks and creak-hunting. Soon be top-notch again.
It was windy but warm as I headed into Brownhills for shopping, and as I passed the canal at Silver Street, I noticed that some embankment work was finally going on, and it’s be interesting to see if they do some of the really bad bits towards Catshill Junction and Clayhanger Bridge.
The gorse was flowering strongly, and the trees along the canal edge are just in blossom. The canoe centre was a hive of activity, which the swans nesting nearby kept a watchful eye on; although there was no need – the canoeists were giving the nest and patrolling dad plenty of space…
April 12th – I didn’t make it home before the storm broke.
There was quite a degree of precipitation. The geese didn’t seem too bothered, though…
April 11th – The swans at the Watermead, near the canoe centre in Brownhills, have been doing well. Subject to a little bit of unwelcome attention last week, by Saturday they seemed relaxed and content. Dad was patrolling, leg up resting, and mum was preening. They are hardy birds and will go after anything that threatens them, and this pair are historically very territorial, as the nearby canoeists have discovered. I think they’ll be OK.
Sadly, the Catshill swans, despite showing interest earlier in the year, appear to be nesting elsewhere this year. Wherever they are, I hope they do as well this year as last.
March 12th – I revised some old haunts tonight to try out the new camera on some familiar night shots. I’m astounded with the improvement in image quality of the TZ70 over the TZ60; the shots are far sharper and less noisy than I’m used to getting. Even the flats on the Watermead by Coopers Bridge are well defined and sharp.
They really let the unexpected beauty of Brownhills at night shine through.
January 25th – This had turned into Lloyd Cole’s lost weekend. Little was going right and I’d spent hours trying to battle with technology, and achieved little.
I escaped in the evening, into a desolate, somnambulant Brownhills, and cruised around the town centre happily lost in my search for a picture.
Sometimes, it’s good just to put the stuff down, get on the bike, start pedalling and stop thinking.
November 15th – Whilst Pelsall had been grey, the encroaching night made everything slate blue when I popped into Brownhills for shopping. Still raining gently, it was quite still and the canal here fascinates me at dusk.
An oddly inspiring day, really.
August 21st – For some reason, of late the Canada geese really have taken a shine to the marina in Silver Street, Brownhills.
Time was not so long ago you’d hardly ever see a goose on the cut, but this summer, they love it here – honking, preening and generally making a mess.
I’m fond of these large, truculent, much misunderstood birds – did you know there are twelve separate types of Canada Goose? – bu by heck, they make a mess.
It’ll be interesting to see if this is a passing attraction, or a longer habitation.
August 17th – If you listen to many opinions in these parts, Brownhills is ugly, a lost cause; everything is broken and we’re descending into oblivion.
But if you open your eyes, and look around, it’s not quite like that.
How I’ve managed to not notice the old wooden rowing boat filled with beautiful flowers before, I’ll never know. It’s placed wonderfully by the Canoe and Outdoor Centre on Silver Street, and captivated me. My compliments to whoever thought of it and planted it. It’s gorgeous.
Compliments are also due to the local schoolkids who planted sunflowers on the open space between the High Street and Short Street; they are absolutely beautiful, and can’t but make you smile.
Brownhills has more than 99 problems. But a lack of beauty isn’t one of them, oddly enough.
August 16th – This young grey heron was fishing in the canal, just by the old marketplace on Silver Street in Brownhills. You know, right by Tesco. On a Saturday afternoon.
I’ll let that sink in a bit.
I’d never have believed we’d see this kind of thing in Brownhills when I was a lad.
Hello, heron – I wish you an excellent day’s fishing.
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