Tag: wildlife

September 17th – By the time I arrived at Shenstone 30 minutes later, the rain and skies had cleared and there was a beautiful violet sunset, which lit my muse of Shenstone Station beautifully in the dusk.

Riding back to Brownhills, I screeched to a half to avoid someone in the road – a full grown, large adult toad, who was healthy and obstinate in the way that gets so many of these unfortunate creatures run over by vehicles.

I pulled out a tissue, and despite his protestations and jet of defensive urine, popped him to safety in the grass verge.

I stop for toads, great sunsets and often for no apparent reason whatsoever…

September 4th – A slightly better day weather-wise, although rain was never far away.

On the canal on the way to work, herons aplenty, my favourite urban bird. I liked how one was sheltering under the M6 motorway flyover, an interesting juxtaposition, and the adult fishing by Bentley Mill Aqueduct had a spectacularly well-defined chest pattern.

Like cats, I’ll never tire of seeing these guys.

August 29th – A day of animals with no time to talk. I saw the tabby with the remarkably bush tail strolling purposefully down where else but the Catroplis that is Scarborough Road. 

I suspect puss is female, and was having no truck with my sort. Despite calling, making gentle gestures and the like, she said me zero heed and continued her walk down the road.

The squirrel in Victoria Park was similarly busy, gathering and burying acorns, storing food for winter, or ay be just starting off new saplings, who knows?

Neither animal stopped long enough for a good photo, so sadly, you’ll have to make do with these snatches quick ones, because… they were so busy.

August 24th – Very tired, I trundled into work along the canal and spotted this heron hunting from the reed margin  at Bentley Bridge.

I still can’t quite believe that these shambling, slightly mad-looking birds frequent such an industrial, urban space – but there are so many and they look so healthy it’s wonderful. There must be clean water and plenty of fish to attract so many.

A joy the morning after a very long preceding night.

July 30th – The deer are busy around Chasewater at the moment. I thought I’d spotted yesterday’s group of reds on the north heath, where I got pretty close without spooking them at all; but when I passed the rugby club the deer from the day before were still there.

That I can take a short journey around the park and see two listing groups of deer shows how populous they are becoming lately, and I do wonder if this might become a difficulty as they move around. 

Deer are not known for their traffic sense and I worry that environmental pressures making them move around are forcing them into contact with traffic more.

They are so lovely to see, but with no predators I fear that soon the herds may need some management…

July 30th – The weather was sunny with squally, heavy showers and due to domestic complications I didn’t get out until late in the afternoon. When I did, I didn’t have a great deal of energy and the wind was a bit fierce so I took a leisurely bible to Chasewater and the surrounding area for a few hours.

With the bad weather it was very quiet, and also a splendid day for chasing rainbows.

I note the harvest is underway at Home Farm, Sandhills; that the birds foot trefoil has been rejuvenated by the recent rain; that the little pond right by the Burntwood bypass is absolutely teeming with busy water snails and that cows are roaming the north heath as well as the spillway area. 

It was a very dramatic day with some lovely sights but I do wish the settled weather would return for a bit.

July 29th – Returning from a ride out on a grey evening threatening rain I came through Chasewater and was heartened to note a group of deer browsing the grass on the Rugby Club by the Chasetown bypass. The herd was disjointed, with six adults spread around the pitch and a fawn getting some rest on the far side.

The animals were calm, inquisitive and not particularly troubled by my attentions. I noticed what good condition they were in and how shiny their coats were.

I’m also amused by the idea of some visiting rugby player going face down in the Chasetown turf during a tackle and getting a face full of fresh deer raisins.

Can’t be many pitches where that’s a hazard…

July 29th – I met the Watermead swan family who were making fair speed along the canal back from Chasewater towards Brownhills, but old habits die hard and they drifted from their central course to see me, just in case I had food. I didn’t, and they were visibly irritated.

The five youngsters are now pretty much the size of their parents and their adult, white plumage is starting to come through.

Another successful brood for these experienced parents marks out another good year for local swans. But where are the youngsters going every year?

July 28th – A terrible, quickly snatched photo on my way home just before midnight, but I met this charming soul in the dark feasting on slugs and snails active in the rain. Attracted by an unusual noise, I was surprised to find two adult hedgehogs seemingly arguing over a particularly densely slug infested stretch of roadside verge.

The larger of the two legged it when it saw me, and once again I was reminded of just how fast these odd creatures can move, but this one hung around for a quick picture.

What a handsome set of spines it has! Great to see not one but two of these sadly rare pest control experts…

July 27th – Pottering along the canal on the way to work through Bentley Bridge, I noticed this juvenile heron; I can’t tell if it’s the same one I spotted a few weeks ago, but it’s clearly hunting well. 

Quite bold and determined I wouldn’t disturb it’s fishing activities, the bird kept an eye on me but didn’t flinch when I stopped to take a photo or two.

I love these mad looking birds and like the deer, I can’t believe we have them now; it’s a sight I marvel at as I’d never have seen these on the canals when I was a child. A real sign of environmental improvement.