April 14th – Cat season is again upon us. As the weather warms and the days lengthen, the formerly hitherto invisible cat population emerge into the light, loafing, strolling and watching the world go by.
This beautiful animal was watching me in Scarborough Road, Walsall, in the morning, in a street surveyed by six or seven feline overseers.
I love to see them. A real sign of summer on the way.
April 13th – I spotted her on the way home, something I don’t think I’ve seen before, a Canada goose nest. From my vantage point on the opposite side of the canal, I couldn’t decide at the time if she was sitting a nest, or just resting. It’s clearly the former, looking at the material underneath her.
This nest is right on the canalside behind the factories on Maybrook Road, between Walsall Wood and Brownhills. My goodness, she’s vulnerable to foxes there.
Lovely to see, though. Hope she’ll be OK.
April 12th – I met this rough-eared flaneur with something of the night about him in The Butts, Walsall. He seemed elderly and deaf, but he wasn’t scared of me and only retreated upon sight of a dog some yards away.
He seemed a lovely old lad and I think someone must love him very much.
I’m glad the warmer days and lighter evenings are here – the season of cat loafing is upon us.
April 12th – On the Walsall Canal where the Anson Brach used to spur off between Bentley Bridge and Bentley Mill Way Aqueduct, the swans who I think nested in the abandoned basin last year are nesting anew.
Sadly, the nest isn’t well protected this year and I think an enterprising fox or heron – who fish here regularly – may end up with cygnet tea.
That’s if the phantom bread-flinger does’t chock the wee ones – sadly, the message that bread isn’t good for waterfowl doesn’t seem to be reaching all quarters. I know these folk mean well, but it’s not good for them.
Please, if you feed them, seed or greens instead.
April 11th – After being closed during roadworks since last summer, it’s good to see the steps from the canal up to Bentley Road in Darlaston back open. With them closed, it meant a trip to Bughole Bridge – not too bad on a bike, but a fair walk to get back to the same place. The steps on Bughole Bridge are also much harder to get a bike up, unlike these, which are so shallow, you can actually ride down them if you’re careful.
Long overdue, but glad to see it.
April 11th – I spotted him near the Bentley Mill Way Aqueduct, perched in a tree. I haven’t seen many herons of late, so it was nice to see this neat, healthy looking specimen looking for a meal. This was very near where the swans are currently nesting and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was hoping to bag a cygnet for lunch.
As is usual with these wonderful birds, I scared him and he flew 30 metres or so down the canal, landing well away from me.
I love these wonderful, eccentric-seeming birds.
April 10th – Nice to see a thriving bunny population around the dam and Anglesey Wharf and basin at Chasewater.
There were a large group cropping the turf at the back of the dam cottage, sadly they were skittish and I scared all but this pair away.
They look healthy though. Good to see them after the myxomatosis outbreak near Newtown ended the warren there.
April 10th – Down at the Warehouse, Where the Lichfield Road and Barracks Lane Cross, a horse’s neigh from where the Staffordshire Hoard found Hammerwich, some beautiful flowers by the horse pasture. Forget me nots, wallflowers, blackcurrant, daffodils, hyacinth and others vie for attention in a busy hedgerow.
A gorgeous sight on what was a blustery, rather cold day.
April 9th – A short spin from Brownhills to Newtown and back was under the most peculiar spring weather – bright sunshine but with a dark and very threatening sky, To catch it’s glory I came back from Newtown along the canal to Brownhills, and was fascinated by the eastern skies.
This place is beautiful. Never let anyone tell you different. Even when the weather is poor.
April 8th – One sight that is wonderful every year – though often overlooked – is the appearance of the daisies. Common as the grass they grow in, these little blooms of quiet perfection are fascinating when you look closely, and very under appreciated.
I felt sorry for these on the canal bank, so I captured their image to share with everyone.
BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking 