May 13th – On the way home from work, near Catshill Junction, one of Brownhills’ most closely watched families – the Watermead swans – head towards Catshill, purpose unknown.
Mum and dad and 3 cygnets, like any family. Proud mother, protective father and chattering, pottering children, learning all the time.
Timeless and beautiful to see.
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May 4th – Another marker of the advancing spring is they waterfowl chicks on local canals. On a gorgeous evening near Middleton Bridge, Brownhills, my first cygnets of the year.
This clutch of what appeared to be at least six – several of whom were riding on momma’s back – are a bit of a mystery: The pair at Barrow Close Walsall Wood are still sitting and at the Watermead, she’s apparently hatched three this year.
So where this lady has been nesting I have no idea. But lovely to see.
Sorry for poor image and video quality: The light was fading.
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May 3rd – It’s always interesting to watch the variety and spread of oak galls on the trees I pass.
At the moment, rosy red oak apples are developing well, corrupted from leaf buds by the tiny wasp who laid her egg in the bud. Her larvae will hatch inside, done on the inside of the gall and drill their way out when mature.
Fascinating things that don’t harm the tree and continue a millennia old relationship between oak and parasite.
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April 28th – A day marred by a bad stomach so I busied myself with other things and headed out late in the afternoon for a circuit of Chasewater, Burntwood, Wall and Stonnall.
At Chasewater, it seems the small group of deer who have been hanging around the spillway heath at Anglesey Basin are still there.
The fece doesn’t trouble them, they just hop over as required.
Odd too see people walking past without stopping – deer used to be a spectacle here but it seems now they’re as familiar as the cattle on the north shore.
I still can’t quite believe they’re here.
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April 24th – I’m not working too much this week, but had to go to Telford for a meeting. On my way to Hortonwood but also having need to visit Stafford Park, I passed this stunning line of ornamental cherry trees in Blossom along the motorway.
Industrial estates like this never get much attention – but those trees are relatively undisturbed and the margins, edgelands and verges of places like this are relatively undisturbed havens for everything from pollinators to fungi.
Bravo to the people that planted these trees. A gorgeous sight in an unexpected place.
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April 15th – Always nice to spot the first mallard chicks of the season and these today were spotted near Bently Bridge in Darlaston.
Clearly new hatchlings, these energetic and busy little ducklings followed mum as she puttered in the reeds. There seemed to be 12 in total, but it was difficult to keep count with several stragglers!
You know it’s spring when the ducklings arrive…
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April 13th – Was going to be busy all day with family things so nipped out early to get the ride it. It was bright but cold, and on a fast run to Chasewater I came across this napping swan by Anglesey Wharf.
It tolerated me but was clearly giving me it’s undivided attention.
I bid it good morning and made a gentle exit.
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April 9th – A run on the canal through Pleck and Bentley Bridge to check on the nesting swan couple at the former Anson Arm. I needn’t have worried. She was fast asleep in comfort and he was on patrol, threatening to peck my feet on the opposite bank.
This pair usually have small clutches. When the long wait is over, it’ll be interesting to watch them develop this year, as ever.
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April 8th – Returning home at gone 7pm in grey light, I spotted this elderly lady watching me from the open space in North Street.
I suspect she’d been having a standoff with a factory cat from the yard over the road.
She looks in good condition and wasn’t fazed by me at all.
Beautiful animal, and a pleasure to see.
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April 7th – The group of deer that have been loafing around the spillway and dam for the last couple of weeks were hanging around the south shore when I returned from a ride out at dusk.
The day had promised decent weather – it was much warmer than it has been which was a good start – but it was hazy and grey and not inspiring at all, which was sad.
As I rolled up to take their picture, three ladies ambled out of the scrub to my left, which was a surprise: A sign to be a bit more careful with deer numbers increasing, I think.
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