In week 4, a sunny Tuesday morning cycle to Weston Shore brought fleeting cloud-dragons, elusive Greenfinches, the shell-tree, and an unexpected cat. Not to mention Wallenius Wilhelmsen, accidentally included in the photo below.
Next to those shrubs, there’s a willow that’s been hung with oyster shells, the holes presumably human-made.
As I turned to cycle home, I spotted a cat on the rocks above the shore, something I’d never seen before.
On Thursday, after my usual shopping trip in Bitterne Precinct, I paused to appreciate the huge evergreen at the corner of the Holy Saviour Church yard. I’m not sure what it is – maybe a cedar? – but it’s jaw-dropping. I stood with my bike smiling at it, noticing that other people didn’t give it a second glance. Their loss.
Back at home, a pair of blue tits were working the garden. They were ignoring the sunflower seed feeders to look for food on the still leafless silver birch and the Californian lilac (the large shrub in this photo). I watched them for about 10 minutes, just enjoying being in their presence. Their bright colours and perkiness never fail to lift my mood.
On a second visit to Weston Shore, I paused to watch the crows. They’re fascinating. One – the one in the foreground of this photo – dunked a worm in the puddle before swallowing it. To rinse it? To kill it? Just because it could?!
There’s never dull moment down at Weston Shore. I wonder what I’ll notice next time…
Dandelion Nature 